HISTOEY 


THIRTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT 


ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS, 


DURING  THE 


WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION, 


L.  G.  BENNETT  AND  WM.  M.  HAIGH. 


AURORA,  ILL.; 

KNICKERBOCKER  <5^  H  ODDER,  PRINTERS  AND  BINDERS. 
1876. 


5 


& 


PREFACE. 


In  the  presentation  of  our  History  of  the  Thirty-Sixth  Reg 
iment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  to  the  public,  we  have  no  apologies 
to  offer  for  what  may  seem  an  intrusion,  in  adding  another  vol 
ume  to  the  already  overburdened  "literature  of  the  war."  The 
survivors  of  the  "  Old  Thirty-Sixth"  have  long  felt  the  want  of 
such  a  work,  for  one  among  many  other  reasons,  to  correct  the 
errors  and  to  supply  the  omissions  of  the  general  historian. 
They,  many  years  ago,  inaugurated  measures  looking  to  the  col 
lection  of  the  annals  of  the  Regiment,  and  their  publication.  A 
historian  was  appointed,  and  committees  from  each  company 
selected  to  assist  in  the  collection  of  material,  and  to  collate  arid 
prepare  it  for  the  press.  But  little  progress  was  made,  and  as 
the  years  passed  by  and  the  work  was  not  accomplished,  or  even 
fairly  commenced,  other  appointments  were  made,  but  without 
satisfactory  results.  At  the  annual  reunion  of  the  surviving 
comrades  in  1875,  another  historian  was  selected,  new  auxil 
iary  committees  created,  and  an  impetus  given  which  promised 
success.  The  new  historian  early  associated  with  him  the  former 
one,  and  dividing  the  work  between  them,  the  result  has  been  the 
present  volume. 

Few  persons  can  comprehend  the  great  labor  and  difficulties 
attending  the  preparation  of  a  work  of  this  kind.  At  the  very 
outset,  those  who  were  expected  to  contribute  materials  were 
scattered' oy.er  much  of  the  Western  Hemisphere,  and  to  reach 

M176660 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGH. 

Introductory, Io 

CHAPTER  II. 
Camp  Hammond, _.  Ij 

CHAPTER  III. 
Roster  of  the  Regiment, -,8 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Oft' for  the  Wars, _   55 

CHAPTER  V. 
Rolla, 64 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Expedition  to  Houston, ^ 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Still  at  Rolla, 7Q 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Rolla  to  Pea  Ridge, on 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Bentonville, 127 

CHAPTER  X. 
Pea  Ridge, 140 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Battle  of  Pea  Ridge — First  Day, 144 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Battle  of  Pea  Ridge — Second  Day, 163 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Pursuit  and  Battle-field, x69 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Conrad's   Expedition — Recuperating, 17^ 

CHAPTER  XV. 
From  Keitsville  to  Cape  Girardeau, 187 


CONTENTS.  VII. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

PAGE. 

Cape  Girardeau  to  Rienzi 2QI 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Rienzi  to  Louisville, 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Advance  into  Kentucky, 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Battle  of  Perryville, 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Afterthe  Battle 6 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Perryville  to  Nashville, 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Battle  of  Stone  River, _  _  _  6 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Battle  of  Stone  River,  Continued, _g7 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Prison  Life  in  the  South, 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Murfreesboro.  .. 

— ,_...      407 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Murfreesboro,  Continued, 

• —  .421 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

On  to  the  Tennessee, , 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
Battle  of  Chickamauga, /- 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Chattanooga, g 

CHAPTER  XXX. 
Mission    Ridge, /• 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
East  Tennessee, _  _  6 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 
Re-enlistment  and  Furlough, 54g 

CHAPTER  XXXIIT. 
To  the  Front, 62 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
Dalton  and   Resaca, 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
Adairsville « 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 
Dallas, 

•- 592 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 
Kenesaw, ^ 


VIII.  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

PAGE. 

Atlanta, .612 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Atlanta  to  Columbia, 621 

CHAPTER  XL. 

Spring  Hill 63 1 

CHAPTER  XLI. 

Battle  of  Franklin 646 

CHAPTER  XLII. 
Battle  of  Nashville, .667 

CHAPTER  XLIII. 
Pursuit   of  Hood,   693 

CHAPTER  XLIV. 
Huntsville,  East  Tennessee  and  New  Orleans, 704 

CHAPTER  XLV. 
Company  A  Cavalry - 72° 

CHAPTER    XLVI. 

Company  B  Cavalry, - 75° 

APPENDIX. 

John  A.  Porter, 792 

Lieut.  Elliott's  Narrative, - -  -  -  792 

Fourteen  Months  in  Rebel  Prisons, 800 

PORTRAITS. 

Col.  N.  Greusel, 

Major  Gen.  S.  R.  Curtis, 99 

Major  Gen.  Franz  Sigel 186 

Rev.  Wm.  M.  Haigh, 290 

Gen.  Phil.  H.Sheridan, --343 

Col.  Silas  Miller,. 434 

Gen.  Wm.  H.  Lytle 480 

Lieut.  Col.  Porter  C.Olson, 654 

Major  Gen.  H.  Thomas 667 

Major  S.  B.  Sherer, 75° 


H  I  S  T  O  E  Y 


OF    THE 


THIRTY-SIXTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

[WENTY  YEARS  of  ceaseless  agitation  of  the 
"  Slavery  Question,"  engendered  sectional  ani 
mosities,  which,  intensified  with  each  succeed 
ing  political  campaign,  and  each  fresh  triumph 
of  the  anti-slavery  party,  eventually  culmin 
ated  in  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  Republic.  This  event  served  to  embit 
ter  the  pro-slavery  faction  beyond  the  bounds  ot  reason,  and 
was  used  by  them  as  a  pretext  for  breaking  into  pieces  the  gov 
ernment  of  which  they  for  a  long  series  of  years  had  held 
absolute  control.  The  result  of  that  election  was  hardly  known, 
when  South  Carolina  fulminated  her  Ordinance  of  Secession 
amidst  a  wild  storm  of  enthusiasm  which  swept  over  the  whole 
South.  State  after  State  seceded  and  rapidly  wheeled  into 
line  with  Carolina.  For  months  before  the  inauguration  of  the 


10  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

incoming  administration,  the   "sacred   soil   of  secessia"   echoed 
the  tread  of  armies  and  the  din  of  preparation. 

Government  forts  and  arsenals  were  seized,  arms  distributed 
among  the  people,  debts  due  Northern  creditors  repudiated,  and 
citizens  of  the  free  States  forcibly  ejected  from  her  borders. 
Outrage  succeeded  outrage  in  such  rapid  succession  and  unpar 
alleled  audacity,  as  even  a  state  of  savage  warfare  would  scarcely 
justify.  Backed  by  a  people  eager  for  the  onset,  the  whole 
South,  from  the  rivers  to  the  gulf,  glittered  with  bayonets  and 
glowed  with  martial  fires. 

Those  who  remained  true  to  the  constitution  and  flag  of  the 
country,  and  unshaken  in  their  allegiance  to  the  Republic,  were, 
with  few  exceptions,  reserved  and  silent.  Southern  conventions 
with  their  accompaniments  of  bombast  a,nd  folly,  arid  Southern 
orators  with  their  frothy  gasconade,  were  heard  with  supreme 
indifference  or  profound  contempt.  For,  had  not  the  same 
things  been  witnessed  before  ?  Had  not  the  same  orators  often 
deluged  the  country  with  denunciation  and  menace  when  defeat  at 
the  polls  had  only  been  feared  ?  Now,  when  they  had  suffered  a 
crushing  defeat  at  a  fair  election,  which  all  their  mad  efforts  had 
not  been  able  to  prevent,  their  resolutions  and  threats  were 
regarded  as  the  insane  ravings  of  lunatics,  or  the  harmless 
thunder  of  disappointed  politicians,  rather  than  the  deliberate 
action  of  cool  headed,  reflecting  men.  Even  their  ordinances  of 
secession,  and  the  establishment  of  insurgent  governments,  were 
common  laughing  stocks  at  the  North,  and  regarded  rather  as  a 
stupendous  game  of  intimidation  than  the  preliminary  steps  to 
rebellion  and  war. 

With  the  bombardment  and  fall  of  Sumpter,  the  eyes  of  the 
nation  opened,  and  indignation  flashed  through  the  astonished 
land,  arousing  the  loyal  men  of  the  nation  from  their  stupor. 


THE  PRESIDENT'S  FIRST  CALL.  11 

The  rebound  was  tremendous,  breaking  the  calm  placidity  of  the 
people.  The  whole  North  quivered  with  a  new  emotion.  The 
strong  lines  of  party  were  snapped  asunder,  and  forgetful  of 
past  political  differences,  each  regarded  the  other  as  a  fellow 
citizen  of  one  common  country,  animated  with  kindred  feelings 
and  purposes,  and  disposed  to  bury  personal  strifes  for  the  sake 
of  home  and  country.  Patriotism,  which  had  so  long  been 
spurned  by  politicians  and  at  best  regarded  as  a  pleasant  myth, 

sprang  to  life  in  a  single  day  and  blossomed  into  fruitfulness 

that  fruit,  a  stern  resolve  to  sacrifice  position,  life  and  all  in 
defence  of  the  Republic. 

Mingling  with  the  doleful  reverberations  from  Sumpter,  was 
heard  the  President's  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  men,  to  meet 
and  combat  the  oncoming  hosts  of  rebellion.  Before  a  single 
day  had  passed  the  lightnings  had  flashed  back  to  the  Capitol 
that  twice  that  number  were  ready  to  march  at  the  tap  of  the 
drum,  and  that  thousands  were  then  on  their  way  to  rescue  and 
to  save.  Never  was  summons  to  arms  more  promptly  responded 
to.  In  a  single  day  the  hum  of  manufactories  and  of  the  peace 
ful  occupation  of  laborers  in  the  fields  was  drowned  by  the 
tramp  of  hurrying  thousands  thronging  to  the  designated  places 
of  rendezvous. 

Under  that  first  call  for  seventy-five  thousand  men,  six  regi 
ments  was  the  quota  allotted  for  Illinois  to  furnish.  In  the  war' 
with  Mexico  the  State  had  contributed  six  regiments,  every  one 
of  which  returned  covered  with  glory  as  well  as  honored  scars. 
Each  had  won  laurels  distinctively  its  own,  and  in  order  not  to 
mingle  their  achievements  with  the  deeds  of  other  regiments 
bearing  the  same  numbers,  and  to  leave  the  survivors  in  undis 
turbed  possession  of  the  glory  attached  to  the  numbers  of  the 
regiments  to  which  their  bravery  had  given  eclat,  it  was  thought 


12  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

best  to  leave  these  numbers  undisturbed.  Thus  the  first  regiment 
mustered  into  service  from  Illinois  in  the  war  to  suppress  the 
Rebellion,  was  the  Seventh,  which  heads  the  list  of  the  one  hun 
dred  and  seventy  regiments  of  all  arms  furnished  by  the  State. 
Thousands  who  sought  service  in  the  ranks  of  these  six  regi 
ments  were  refused.  Recruiting  offices  were  closed  and  eager 
applicants  turned  away  with  the  comforting  assurance  that  the 
"Rebellion  would  be  over  in  sixty  days."  So  thought  public 
men,  and  so  thought  the  mass  of  the  people.  And  yet  each  day 
the  rebellion  grew  more  powerful  and  more  difficult  to  suppress. 

At  length  the  disaster  at  Bull  Run  opened  the  eyes  of  the 
people  to  the  magnitude  of  the  contest  into  which  the  country 
had  been  reluctantly  drawn,  and  to  the  imminent  danger  which 
imperilled  and  threatened  the  existence  of  the  Republic.  Fol 
lowing  upon  this  defeat  of  the  undisciplined  militia  of  the  North, 
came  a  second  uprising  of  the  people,  and  other  calls  for  troops. 
Again  the  fires  of  patriotism  burned  afresh.  The  enlistment, 
mustering  and  arming  of  volunteer  regiments  went  on  with 
astonishing  celerity,  and  from  these  at  last  was  evoked  an  army 
of  soldiers,  whose  swelling  cohorts  were  crowded  to  the  front  and 
hurled  upon  an  over  confident  and  vaunting  foe. 

The  Fox  River  Valley  was  all  ablaze  with  enthusiasm.  The 
stalwart  sons  of  its  people  were  eager  to  grasp  their  firelocks  and 
press  forward  to  the  fray.  A  meeting  of  parties  interested  in 
the  formation  of  a  "Fox  River  Regiment"  was  held  at  Geneva 
on  the  29th  day  of  July,  1861,  and  preliminary  steps  taken  for 
its  organization.  Fifteen  companies,  either  complete  or  in  an 
advanced  state  of  formation,  were  represented  and  tendered  for 
acceptance,  twelve  of  which  were  selected,  including  two  cav 
alry  companies.  The  Aurora  Beacon  and  other  newspapers  in 
the  District  aided  the  project  by  stirring  appeals  to  the  patriot- 


BIOGRAPHY  OF  COL.   GREUSEL.  13 

ism  of  the  people.  In  furtherance  of  this  object  Mr.  George  S. 
Bangs,  D.  W.  Young  and  others  applied  to  the  War  Depart 
ment,  as  well  as  to  the  State  authorities,  for  permission  to  pro 
ceed  with  the  organization,  which  was  speedily  granted.  Major 
Nicholas  Greusel,  of  the  Seventh  Illinois  Volunteers,  then  on 
duty  at  Cairo,  was  designated  to  take  charge  of  its  organization 
and  equipment  for  the  field.  In  compliance  with  orders  from 
Governor  Yates,  he  proceeded  to  Aurora  and  assumed  the  direc 
tion  of  all  matters  pertaining  to  the  enlistment,  the  discipline, 
the  equipment  and  supplies  necessary  for  so  large  a  body.  In 
short,  he  assumed  the  entire  command  and  led  it  to  its  designated 
field  of  action.  The  order  assigning  him  to  the  command  is  as 
follows : 

"  GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  ) 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  '  I 

SPRINGFIELD,  AUG.  14TH,  1861.     j 
GENERAL  ORDER,  No.  139. 

Lieut.    Col.   N.    Greusel,   of  the  7th   Illinois   Volunteers    is 
hereby  promoted  to  the  Colonelcy  of  the  Fox  River  Regiment, 
111.  Vols.,  and  as  such  is  to  be  respected  and  obeyed. 
By  order  of  the  Commander  in  Chief. 

THOMAS  L.  MATHER,  Adjutant  General." 
This  order  was  all  the  commission  or  authority   which   any 
officer,  except  one  Lieutenant,  received  in  connection   with   the 
36th,  until  after  eight  months  of  hard  service. 

COL.  NICHOLAS  GREUSEL  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  July 
4th,  1817,  and  was  forty -four  years  of  age  on  assuming  the  com 
mand  of  the  Regiment.  He  received  a  fair  education  in  French 
and  German  in  the  schools  in  his  native  city  of  Blieskastle.  The 
Greusels,  consisting  of  father,  mother,  and  nine  brothers  and  sis 
ters,  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  the  summer  of  1834.  and 
on  arriving  at  the  City  of  New  York,  strangers  and  penniless,  the 
larger  boys  were  told  by  their  father  that  they  were  now  in  a 


14  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

free  country;  that  he  had  nothing  more  than  a  parent's  blessing 
to  bestow,  and  that  they  must  commence  the  battle  of  life 
for  themselves,  but  that  in  case  of  sickness  or  misfortune  such  a 
home  as  he  might  be  in  possession  of  should  be  theirs. 

Without  knowing  a  word  of  the  English  language,  the  future 
to  these  poor  lads  looked  dark  and  gloomy.  The  boy  Nicholas 
wandered  over  the  city  for  hours  in  search  of  employment,  when, 
after  many  failures  and  rebuffs,  a  lady  of  benevolent  and  kindly 
mien  admitted  him  to  a  sheltering  roof  and  gave  him  work. 
The  lady  who  at  this  dark  hour  proved  an  angel  of  mercy  to 
him  was  the  mother  of  Hamilton  Fish,  once  Senator  from  New 
York,  and  now  President  Grant's  Secretary  of  State. 

Here  Nicholas  remained  a  year,  when  the  whole  family 
removed  to  the  then  wilderness  territory  of  Michigan,  reach 
ing  Detroit  by  canal  and  steamer,  November  1st,  1835.  At  first 
such  odd  jobs  as  could  be  found  were  resorted  to  fora  livelihood, 
such  as  driving  team,  gathering  ashes,  etc.,  but  in  the  spring  he 
obtained  a  permanent  situation  in  the  firm  of  Rice,  Coffin  &  Co., 
in  the  business  of  lumbering,  and  remained  in  their  employ  for 
eleven  years,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war.  Prior 
to  this  he  had  served  as  Captain  of  the  "Scott  Guards,"  a  local 
military  company,  and  subsequently  as  Major  of  the  "Frontier 
Guards,"  and  was  nominally  on  duty  during  the  "Patriot  Rebel 
lion  "  in  Canada.  At  the  municipal  election  in  Detroit  in  1844 
he  was  elected  Alderman  of  the  4th  Ward  on  the  Whig  ticket, 
and  served  in  that  capacity  two  years.  On  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Mexican  war  he  recruited  a  company  for  service  and  was 
elected  its  Captain,  being  Co.  D.,  1st  Regt.  Michigan  Vols. 
On  setting  out  for  their  campaign  they  marched  on  foot  to 
Springfield,  Ohio,  thence  by  rail  to  Cincinnati,  and  by  steamer  to 
New  Orleans  and  Vera  Cruz,  which  place  was  reached  ten  days 
after  its  surrender  to  General  Scott. 


BIOGRAPHY    OP    COL.    GREUSEL.  15 

In  the  march  upon  the  city  of  Mexico  the  Michigan  Volun 
teers  were  attached  to  the  Division  of  General  Bankhead,  which 
marched  through  Cordova  and  Orizaba  some  distance  south  of 
the  National  Road  to  the  Mexican  Capitol.  Their  progress 
through  the  country  was  almost  a  continuous  battle  with  bands 
of  "guerillas"  and  bodies  of  Mexican  soldiery  who  swarmed 
from  the  mountain  fastnesses.  In  their  encounters  with  the 
enemy  the  Michigan  Volunteers  acquitted  themselves  nobly,  per 
forming  successfully  and  well  every  duty  assigned  them. 

The  war  having  been  brought  to  a  close  in  the  summer  of 
1847,  the  regiment  returned  home,  arriving  at  Detroit  July  12th. 
At  the  outset  Captain  Greusel's  Company  numbered  one  hun 
dred  and  five  men,  and  he  returned  with  eighty-five,  having  been 
better  cared  for  and  in  better  health  than  any  of  the  other  com 
panies  in  the  Regiment.  Under  his  economical  management 
about  $300  Company  money  was  saved,  with  which  he  purchased 
new  shirts,  shoes,  blacking,  and  such  articles  of  clothing  and 
accoutrements  as  were  lacking,  and  when  within  a  few  hours' 
ride  from  Detroit,  directed  his  men  to  shave,  wash,  and  dress  in 
the  new  outfit  provided  for  them.  The  other  officers  were  aston- 
tonished  and  somewhat  chagrined  to  find  that  his  company 
were  clean  and  well  dressed  while  theirs  were  walking  bundles 
of  dirty  rags.  On  landing,  Col.  Williams  placed  Company  D. 
in  the  advance  in  marching  through  the  city ;  while  the  news 
papers  were  filled  with  articles  eulogistic  of  Captain  Greusel  and 
the  fine  appearance  of  his  veteran  company.  The  day  succeeding 
his  discharge  and  muster  out  of  the  service,  found  him  back  in 
his  old  position  in  the  lumber  yard  of  Rice,  Coffin  &  Co.,  attend 
ing  to  business  as  of  yore. 

Subsequently  he  was  elected  Captain  of  the  City  Guards  and 
then  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  first  battalion  ;  was  appointed  Super- 


16  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS 

intendent  of  the  City  Water  Works  in  1847,  and  Inspector  Gen 
eral  of  lumber  for  the  State  of  Michigan  in  1848,  which  office 
he  held  two  years.  An  unfortunate  investment  stripped  him  of 
the  hard  earnings  of  a  life  time,  and  he  again  commenced  at  the 
lowest  round  of  the  ladder  of  life  to  win  his  way  to  a  competency 
and  to  fame.  He  next  turned  his  attention  to  railroading  and 
found  continuous  employment,  first  upon  the  Michigan  Cen 
tral  and  then  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  in 
whose  employ  the  Rebellion  found  him.  A  company  recruited  by 
him  at  Aurora  was  among  the  first  to  respond  to  the  President's 
call  for  troops,  and  on  the  organization  of  the  Tth  Regiment  he 
was  appointed  its  Major,  where  the  opening  chapter  of  our  story 
finds  him.  His  whole  career  is  replete  with  incidents  of  indom 
itable  perseverance,  and  triumphs  over  discouragements,  indicat 
ing  a  determination  to  accomplish  whatever  he  should  undertake. 
It  was  quite  generally  conceded  that  in  the  appointment  of  a 
leader,  the  right  man  was  found  for  the  place. 

EDWARD  S.  JOSLYN,  the  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  regiment,  at  this 
time  was  about  thirty-four  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Nunda, 
Alleghany  County,  N.  Y.,  but  for  the  last  twenty-five  years  had 
been  a  resident  of  Kane  and  McHenry  counties.  A  lawyer  by 
profession,  his  brilliant  talents  had  won  for  him  a  high  position 
at  the  bar.  He  was  among  the  first  who  sprang  to  arms  ere  the 
thunders  from  Sumpter  had  ceased  to  reverberate  through  the 
land.  He  was  appointed  Captain  of  Company  A  of  the  first 
regiment  formed  in  the  State.  Fearless  and  outspoken,  none 
who  knewT  him  doubted  his  patriotism  or  courage.  The  whole 
regiment  was  devoted  in  their  attachment  to  him,  and  confident 
that  in  the  trials  which  awaited  them  he  would  acquit  himself 
with  honor  and  distinction. 


CHAPTER    II. 

CAMP  HAMMOND. 

'T  FIRST  the  point  selected  for  the  place  of  rendez 
vous  was  on  the  east  side  of  Fox  River,  in  a  grov 
opposite  the  village  of  Montgomery  ;  but  the  owner 
of  the  land,  with  more  selfishness  than  patriotism, 
would  not  allow  the  location  of  a  camp  on  his  prem 
ises  without  an  exorbitant  consideration.  Another 
site  was  selected  on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  a  half  mile  above 
Montgomery  and  two  miles  from  Aurora,  on  high  ground  overlook 
ing  and  adjoining  the  track  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad.  A  fine  spring  of  clear,  cold  water  near  at  hand  burst 
out  from  the  foot  of  the  bluff,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  forest 
shade,  this  location  was  fully  as  pleasant  and  far  more  dry  and 
healthful  than  the  proposed  camp  in  the  woods,  and  possessed 
the  additional  advantage  of  easy  access  to  the  railroad. 

Col.  Hammond,  the  efficient  Superintendent  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  took  a  warm  interest  in  the 
organization  and  welfare  of  the  regiment  from  its  first  inception, 
as  was  attested  by  the  presentation  of  a  fine  flag-staff,  from 
which  gracefully  waved  the  stars  and  stripes,  doubly  consecrated 


18  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

in  the  affections  of  the  men  since  the  attempt  of  traitors  to 
trample  it  in  the  dust.  For  this,  as  well  as  many  other  favors, 
were  both  officers  and  men  under  obligation  to  Col.  Hammond, 
and  it  was  in  his  honor-  that  this  first  encampment  was  called 
"Camp  Hammond,"  which  for  many  days  was  a  point  of  absorb 
ing  interest  to  the  good  people  of  Kane  and  Kendall  counties 
and  of  the  surrounding  region. 

The  Young  America  Guards  arrived  upon  the  ground  Satur 
day,  August  18th,  1861,  being  the  first  company  in  camp. 
They  were  a  fine  body  of  athletic  men,  as  ready  to  grapple  with 
the  hardships  of  campaigning  as  to  go  to  their  accustomed  duties 
in  field  or  shop.  They  were  commanded  by  Capt.  E.  B.  Bald 
win,  and  their  quarters  were  selected,  their  tents  arranged,  and 
were  apparently  well  settled  for  housekeeping  on  the  arrival  of 
the  other  companies. 

The  Bristol  Company,  from  Kendall  County,  composed  of 
recruits  from  the  towns  of  Bristol  and  Little  Rock,  was  next  in 
the  order  of  its  arrival,  and  went  into  camp  August  20th,  Cap 
tain  Baldwin  and  the  Guards  forming  in  line  and  according  the 
men  from  Kendall  County  as  gallant  a  reception  as  the  circum 
stances  would  allow.  This  Company,  composed  almost  exclu- 
sivelv  of  farmers'  sons,  was  made  up  of  as  sterling  material  as 
ever  wielded  musket  or  sabre.  The  citizens  of  Bristol  and 
neighborhood  with  commendable  zeal  turned  out  as  to  a  political 
mass  meeting  to  escort  their  boys  to  camp.  Later  in  the  day, 
Captain  Pierce's  Company  from  Lisbon,  the  "Wayne  Rifles," 
the  "  Oswego  Rifles,"  and  the  "Elgin  Guards"  put  in  an  appear 
ance,  each  preceded  by  the  squeaking  of  fifes,  the  clangor  of 
drums,  the  shout  and  hurrah  of  citizens,  and  accompanied  by 
little  less  than  a  brigade  of  anxious  mothers,  staid  and  sober 
fathers,  devoted  wives,  fidgety  sisters  and  forlorn  looking  sweet 
hearts. 


FIRST    NIGHT    IN    CAMP.  19 

But  this,  like  all  days,  had  an  end,  and  as  the  declining  sun 
began  to  throw  a  halo  of  glory  over  camp  and  field,  painful 
good  byes  were  said,  and  many  a  mother's  heart  throbbed  with 
sorrowing  yet  tender  thoughts  as  she  wended  her  way  homeward. 
The  men  set  to  work  with  a  will :  tents  went  up  as  if  by  magic ; 
a  limited  number  of  blankets  were  distributed  ;  a  meagre  sup 
ply  of  straw  procured  for  bedding ;  and  rations,  consisting 
of  bread,  beef,  bacon  and  coffee,  were  issued  to  the  men, 
who  essayed,  man  fashion,  to  cook  and  eat  their  first  meal  in 
camp.  The  way  some  of  the  poor  fellows  went  at  it  was  a  sight 
so  supremely  ludicrous  as  to  excite  the  laughter  of  anything 
capable  of  appreciating  superlative  awkwardness.  Some  of  the 
beef  passed  through  the  trying  ordeal  of  cooking,  much  after 
the  manner  and  as  safely  as  those  Israelitish  worthies,  Sha- 
drach,  Meshech  and  Abednego,  passed  through  the  fiery  furnace, 
with  little  of  the  smell  of  fire  about  it,  while  the  huge  slices  of 
others  were  shriveled  and  burned  to  a  crisp  ;  but  whether  raw 
or  roasted,  it  finally  went  the  way  of  all  victuals,  seasoned  with 
some  honest  growls,  but  with  few  expressions  of  entire  satis 
faction. 

This  first  night  in  camp  will  doubtless  long  be  remembered  by 
many.  But  few  of  the  men  had  ever  before  experienced  the 
luxury  of  a  couch  of  straw,  or  the  thrilling  pleasure  of  reclin 
ing  upon  the  bare  bosom  of  Mother  Earth,  with  a  coat,  a  carpet 
sack  or  block  of  wood  to  serve  as  a  pillow.  To  some,  with  whom 
the  experiment  was  wholly  new,  the  long  hours  of  the  night 
wore  away  dull  and  melancholy.  Notwithstanding  the  scores  of 
people  in  close  proximity  to  them,  it  seemed  lonely  with  but  a 
thin  sheet  of  cotton  cloth  between  them  and  the  great  blue  sky, 
flecked  with  stars,  arching  around  and  over  them.  Some  were 
thinking  of  the  homes  they  had  just  left,  and  many  were  the 


20  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

tender  thoughts  and  loving  wishes  that  were  wafted  thitherward. 
But  the  few  who  lay  down  to  quiet  rest  and  pleasant  dreams 
were  cruelly  defrauded  out  of  so  laudable  a  purpose  by  the  many 
who,  unrestrained,  gave  full  vent  to  their  joyous  hilarity  and 
ceaseless  mischief,  deluging  the  camp  with  fun  and  noises  the 
most  hideous  and  unearthly,  as  if  a  new  Pandemonium  had  at 
once  broken  loose.  At  times,  profound  silence  would  reign 
throughout  the  camp  for  the  lengthened  period  of  a  minute  and 
a-half,  when  some  "rough"  from  an  obscure  corner  would  give  a 
tremendous  "Baa!"  Another  from  an  adjoining  tent  would 
respond,  then  the  chorus  would  be  taken  up  along  the  line  of 
tents  from  all  parts  of  camp,  and  in  ten  seconds  from  the  first 
yelp  the  whole  crowd  would  be  "baaing"  with  the  force  of  a 
thousand  calf  power. 

Again  the  lonely  bark  of  a  dog,  faintly  heard  from  some  dis 
tant  farm-house,  would  start  some  human  hound  or  poodle  in 
camp  to  bark  response,  and  then  the  whole  pack  would  take  up 
the  refrain  until  they  had  barked  themselves  hoarse.  Then  there 
were  cat  voices,  sheep  voices,  turkey  gobblings  and  cock  crow- 
ings  ad  libitum.  So  it  went  until  daylight.  But  few  slept, 
some  laughed  a  very  little,  others  swore  a  very  great  deal,  and 
thus  the  night  wore  away. 

On  the  22d  three  more  companies  arrived.  In  the  afternoon, 
Captain  Webb,  a  United  States  mustering  officer,  appeared  and 
administered  the  following  oath  to  the  companies  then  in  camp  : 

"  I  do  solemnly  swear  that  I  will  bear  true  allegiance  to  the 
"  United  States  of  America.  That  I  will  serve  them  honestly 
"  and  faithfully  against  all  enemies  and  opposers  whatever. 
"That  I  will  obey  the  orders  of  the  President  of  the  United 
"  States  and  all  officers  appointed  over  me,  according  to  the  rules 
"of  the  Army  of  the  United  States,  so  help  me  God!" 

Before  the  oath  was  administered  the  men  were  drawn  up  in 
line  of  companies  in  their  respective  quarters,  and  after  baring 


TAKING   THE    OATH.  21 

their  heads,  each  right  hand  went  eagerly  up,  and  at  its  conclu 
sion  many  fervently  joined  the  solemn  invocation,  "So  help  me 
God!"  It  was  a  grand  sight  to  see  company  after  company 
with  hands  uplifted  to  heaven  solemnly  consecrate  themselves  to 
the  protection  and  preservation  of  the  country.  No  cat  squalls 
or  cock  crowing  then.  This  was  casting  the  die  in  which  their 
honor,  their  all,  even  life  itself  was  at  stake.  The  company 
from  Newark  arrived  at  Aurora  in  the  4  p.  m.  train,  and  were 
deployed  in  line  upon  the  platform  of  the  railroad  station,  and 
the  same  oath  administered  before  proceeding  to  camp. 

Before  the  week  had  expired,  every  company,  comprising  ten 
of  infantry  and  two  of  cavalry,  were  on  the  ground  diligently 
at  work  drilling  and  "preserving  rations,"  which  were  supplied 
in  bountiful  abundance,  at  which  all  acquired  commendable  pro 
ficiency. 

The  company  from  Elgin  was  particularly  admired  for  the 
soldierly  bearing  and  generally  fine  appearance  of  the  men. 
Though,  as  raw  material,  not  excelling  many  of  the  others,  yet 
they  had  been  upon  the  parade  ground  before  under  the  super 
vision  of  an  officer  read  up  in  "Hardee,"  and  were  compara 
tively  well  drilled,  and  had  already  acquired  that  stiffness  of 
vertebra  which  the  others  had  yet  to  learn.  They  were  likewise 
partly  armed  and  uniformed,  not  very  uniformly,  'tis  true,  but 
with  enough  of  the  soldier's  paraphernalia  mingled  with  "  store 
clothes"  and  citizen's  gear  to  inspire  awe  and  attract  attention. 
One  or  two,  whose  limbs  sported  in  the  ample  folds  of  the  red 
legged  "  Zoo  Zoo,"  were  special  objects  of  curiosity.  Their 
arms  were  old  fashioned  and  rusty  muskets,  a  sort  of  a  cross 
between  a  cannon  and  liberty  pole,  that  had  been  plundered  from 
the  armory  of  some  half  disbanded  or  wholly  defunct  militia 
company  that  once  had  a  butterfly  existence  somewhere  within 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  bounds  of  Kane  County,  and  which  they  came  lugging  into 
camp  very  much  after  the  fashion  a  person  would  carry  a  fence 
rail  or  crowbar.  These  blunderbusses  excited  intense  disgust  in 
the  minds  of  the  raw  recruits,  who  had  been  fondly  dreaming 
of  Sharp's  or  Henry  rifles  with  sabre  bayonets.  And  it  was 
quite  generally  remarked  that  if  these  were  a  sample  of  what 
was  to  be  our  armament,  our  arrival  in  Dixie  would  be  hailed 
with  delight  by  the  "Johnnie  Rebs,"  as  the  only  parties  who 
would  be  in  any  kind  of  danger  would  be  those  who  unfortu 
nately  happened  to  be  placed  behind  them,  for  it  was  reported 
and  believed  by  some  that  those  guns  would  kick  further  than 
they  would  shoot,  and  were  infinitely  more  dangerous  to  friend 
than  foe. 

To  insure  promptness  in  the  delivery  of  supplies  of  food, 
clothing,  camp  equipage  and  necessary  stores,  and  to  see  that 
there  was  no  lack  either  in  quality  or  quantity,  required  Colonel 
Greusel's  personal  attention,  and  for  a  few  days  he  was  necessa 
rily  absent  a  part  of  the  time.  With  no  instructions  and  few 
correct  ideas  how  the  thing  should  be  done,  the  work  of  arrang 
ing  tents  as  they  should  be  was  only  accomplished  after  infinite 
difficulty  and  innumerable  failures.  At  first  tents  were  scattered 
promiscuously  over  the  prairie  as  if  shot  out  of  a  siege  gun  or 
pitched  together  with  a  hay  fork.  But  the  Colonel  suddenly 
terminated  this  unmilitary  jumble  by  referring  us  to  Hardee  for 
full  instructions  in  the  mysteries  of  camp  arrangement.  The 
tents  were  again  taken  down  and  put  up  as  directed  by  that  fas 
cinating  writer,  in  which  position  they  remained  as  long  as  Camp 
Hammond  was  occupied.  It  may  seem  strange  that  so  brilliant 
an  idea  had  not  flashed  across  our  benighted  understandings  at 
an  earlier  stage  of  camp  life,  for  some  of  the  companies  had 
taken  down  their  tents  and  re-arranged  them  at  least  a  half  dozen 


FIRST  EXPERIENCES    IN    CAMP.  23 

times  before  a  satisfactory  result  was  obtained.  The  habitations 
provided  were  square  wall  tents,  large  and  airy,  and  in  marked 
contrast  to  the  dog  kennels  which  succeeded  their  demise.  They 
numbered  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty,  and  when  finally 
arranged  presented  a  romantic  appearance,  like  some  well  laid 
out  rural  village,  with  pointed  gables  and  Avhitewashed  cottages, 
nestling  like  a  flock  of  swans  upon  the  green  prairie. 

The  details  of  camp  life  were  full  of  interest  to  the  men. 
The  new  uniforms  which  the  officers  began  to  don,  the  evolutions 
of  a  thousand  men  on  drill  or  parade,  the  silvery  music  of  the 
band  at  reveille  or  tattoo  borne  upon  the  stillness  of  the  even 
ing  air,  were  all  calculated  to  make  them  fall  in  love  with  a 
vocation  apparently  so  full  of  varied  charms.  After  a  time  the 
incessant  drill,  and  standing  guard  beneath  a  broiling  sun  or  in 
a  drenching  rain  storm,  washing  greasy  dishes,  scouring  rusty 
knives,  cooking  and  eating  stale  beef,  and  at  night  wallowing 
down  to  sleep  ten  in  a  tent — these  and  a  hundred  other  like 
enjoyments,  pretty  effectually  in  after  times  took  the  romance  out 
of  camp  life  and  left  it,  like  many  other  of  the  more  laborious 
duties,  a  very  plain,  drudging  and  stupid  reality.  But  this  was 
not  fully  realized  at  Camp  Hammond.  Only  the  bright  side  of 
the  picture  with  its  roseate  tints  were  contemplated.  Every  day 
brought  with  it  some  fresh  excitement,  some  pleasant  amusement, 
some  substantial  and  touching  evidence  of  the  wealth  of  affec 
tion  lavished  upon  the  men  by  loving  friends  or  doting  parents 
at  home. 

One  source  of  fun,  however,  occurred  occasionally  from 
attempts  to  "run  the  guard."  Absences  from  roll  call  were  not 
unfrequent.  and  several  drunks  and  disorderlies  had  been  reported 
and  disposed  of  not  in  accordance  with  the  "statutes  of  Wil 
liam  and  Mary,"  when  stringent  orders  were  issued  to  allow  no 


24  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

soldier  to  pass  out  of  camp  except  at  the  gate  near  the  guard 
tent,  and  not  then  without  a  pass  from  head-quarters.  To  enforce 
this  order  a  cordon  of  guards  were  placed  at  short  intervals 
around  the  whole  camp,  armed  and  equipped  with  the  guns 
brought  from  Elgin.  Now  and  then  some  untamed  specimen  of 
the  genus  homo,  impatient  of  restraint,  would  watch  a  favorable 
opportunity  when  the  sentinel's  back  was  turned,  quietly  slip 
down  into  the  gravel  pit,  and  hugging  closely  its  precipitous  and 
protecting  sides,  walk  off  undiscovered ;  or,  if  discovered  and 
called  back,  instead  of  heeding  the  call,  would  break  for  some 
cornfield.  The  sentinel  shouted  for  the  "  Corporal  of  the  Guard," 
when  that  important  functionary,  with  two  or  three  privates, 
whose  pride  and  official  standing  were  involved  in  the  result, 
seized  their  muskets  and  were  away  in  hot  pursuit.  Through 
the  gravel  pit  and  across  the  fields  went  pursuers  and  pursued, 
until,  after  a  long  and  exciting  chase,  they  overhauled  the  culprit, 
and  bringing  him  triumphantly  back  to  camp,  dumped  him  into 
the  litter  and  dirt  of  the  guard  tent.  Some  ran  the  gauntlet 
successfully,  and  for  a  while  enjoyed  the  sweets  of  stolen  liberty. 
The  announcement  that  the  guards  would  be  supplied  with  ball 
cartridges  at  length  put  a  stop  to  this  species  of  fun,  for  those 
disposed  to  participate  in  it  began  to  realize  that  a  two  ounce 
slug  of  lead  in  pursuit  of  a  man  was  quite  a  different  affair  from 
being  chased  by  a  heavy-sided,  ungainly  recruit,  depending  solely 
upon  suppleness  of  limb  and  length  of  breath  for  success.  Some 
of  the  fellows  thus  caught  were  put  in  charge  of  a  guard,  and 
were  observed  sweeping  and  otherwise  clearing  up  the  parade 
ground,  looking  very  sheepish  the  while. 

This  species  of  fun  being  suppressed,  Hiram,  of  Big  Rock, 
in  lieu  of  it  opened  a  boxing  gymnasium.  This,  with  base  ball, 
filled  up  the  intervals  between  meal  time  and  drill.  At  night, 


LIFE    AT    CAMP   HAMMOND.  25 

the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  the  "Red,  White  and  Blue,"  rang 
out  clear  and  sweet  from  the  throats  of  a  glee  club  made  up  from 
the  members  of  the  Morris  Company,  who  almost  every  evening 
favored  us  with  well  sung  and  spirited  choruses.  Thanks  for 
music  in  an  encampment  of  soldiers — it  is  the  crucible  in  which 
a  thousand  diversities  of  taste,  purpose  and  ambition  are  fused 
to  man's  infinite  advantage,  harmonizing  petty  jealousies,  assim 
ilating  diverse  sentiments,  forming  and  cementing  friendships 
which  would  never  have  been  effected  by  any  other  process. 
Besides  the  glee  club,  there  were  plenty  of  other  musical  aspir 
ants  who  sang  in  good  English  and  bad  English,  in  Dutch, 
Chinese,  and  other  dialects  too  numerous  to  mention.  In  other 
portions  of  the  camp  would  be  heard  the  grinding  squeal  of  a 
fiddle,  shrill  and  sharp  as  a  rapier,  around  which  a  quadrille 
would  be  quickly  extemporized,  and  numbers  whirled  in  the 
giddy  mazes  of  the  dance.  Then  came  jokes,  both  fresh  and 
stale,  and  "sells"  and  stories  ad  infinitum. 

The  utmost  cleanliness  existed  throughout  the  camp.  Liquor 
was  prohibited,  by  order  of  the  Colonel,  which  will  everlastingly 
redound  to  his  honor  and  credit ;  and  every  precaution  was  taken 
to  insure  the  health  of  the  men. 

Food  was  abundant,  and  in  many  instances  the  regular  allow 
ance  was  increased  by  contributions  from  the  well  stored  larders 
and  productions  from  the  fields  of  the  large-hearted  farmers  of 
the  country.  Scarcely  a  day  passed  in  which  there  were  not 
heavily  laden  wagons  driven  into  the  quarters,  with  potatoes, 
squashes,  onions,  fruits  and  vegetables,  butter,  eggs,  milk,  &c., 
&c. — substantial  evidences  of  the  generous  and  patriotic  impulses 
of  the  citizens  of  the  surrounding  region.  The  "Young  Amer 
ica  Guards,"  who  were  at  too  great  a  distance  from  home  to  be 
often  remembered  by  their  friends,  generally  had  a  good  time 

3 


26  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

watching  with  watery  mouths  all  such  arrivals ;  but  not  long  had 
they  to  watch  and  wait,  for  selfishness  was  a  trait  of  character 
not  often  indulged  in  by  the  men,  and  generally  all  shared  equally 
in  the  good  things  showered  upon  us  ;  in  fact,  all  the  companies 
" lived  high"  while  at  Camp  Hammond. 

The  military  duties  at  Camp  Hammond  were  about  the  same 
each  day,  excepting  that  the  lines  were  gradually  drawn  closer, 
and  more  strictness  and  severity  of  discipline  observed.  To 
give  the  details  of  one  day  would  answer  for  a  week,  a  month, 
or  a  whole  campaign.  At  five  o'clock  a.  m.,  when  the  first 
blushes  of  the  early  morning  were  stealing  up  and  over  the 
heavens,  and  the  eastern  sky  was  glowing  with  tints  of  purple 
and  gold,  and  at  a  time  when  the  aches  and  pains,  the  joys  and 
sorrows  of  the  men  were  forgotten  in  deep  and  refreshing  slum 
bers,  and  when  each  tent  was  musical  with  a  duet  of  unearthly 
snores,  was  sounded  the  "drummers'  call,"  a  signal  for  the 
drummers  to  assemble,  fifteen  minutes  thereafter,  and  perform  a 
fife  and  sheep  skin  chorus,  called  reveille,  which  consisted,  sim 
ply,  of  a  half  dozen  tunes  played  up  and  down  the  parade  ground, 
and  along  the  line  of  tents.  This  was  the  signal  for  sleepy  and 
sleeping  soldiers  to  cease  snoring,  come  out  from  Dreamland, 
pick  the  straws  from  their  hair,  carefully  fold  their  blankets,  don 
their  wardrobe  and  generally  awaken  to  active  life.  Those 
detailed  for  that  purpose  set  about  preparing  breakfast,  while,  as 
an  appetizer,  the  balance  of  the  Company  were  divided  into 
squads,  and  under  charge  of  Sergeants,  marched  to  the  parade 
ground,  and  put  through  all  the  evolutions  laid  down  by  Hardee 
or  Hoyle,  or  prescribed  by  the  U.  S.  Regulations.  When  break 
fast  was  announced,  a  double  quick  to  the  tables  and  a  charge 
upon  the  viands  smoking  from  the  pot,  and  the  day's  work  was 
fairly  inaugurated. 


DAILY   DUTIES    IN    CAMP.  27 

At  six  o'clock  a.  m.  was  "Police  Call,"  at  which  every  straw, 
chicken  bone,  hen's  feather,  quid  of  tobacco,  scrap  of  paper, 
&c.,  &c.,  were  gathered  up  and  carried  beyond  the  confines  of 
the  camp.  At  seven  o'clock  was  another  drum  beat,  called  the 
"  Surgeon's  Call,"  at  which  all  the  sick,  lame  and  lazy  were 
marched  to  the  surgeon's  quarters  for  examination  and  treatment 
for  their  varied  ailments.  At  half-past  seven  o'clock  another 
rub-a-dub-dub  diffused  the  information  that  it  was  time  for  drill, 
when  at  it  they  went,  tramp,  tramp,  march,  march,  rush,  rush, 
from  two  to  four  hours,  as  if  their  very  salvation  was  depending 
on  it,  when  seething,  sweating  and  panting  they  were  marched 
to  their  quarters  and  allowed  a  brief  interval  to  cool  off. 

At  nine  o'clock  was  guard  mounting,  when  the  new  guards, 
made  up  of  squads  detailed  for  that  purpose  from  each  company, 
proceeded  to  head-quarters,  and  after  being  inspected,  divided 
into  reliefs  numbered  One,  Two  and  Three,  and  receiving  their 
orders,  proceeded  to  relieve  the  guards  of  the  previous  twenty- 
four  hours.  The  post  of  each  sentinel  or  guard  was  numbered, 
and  if  disorders  or  violations  of  military  etiquette  occurred 
which  required  regulating,  near  any  particular  station,  the  sen 
tinel  at  that  post  called  for  the  "Corporal  of  the  Guard,"  add 
ing  the  number  of  the  post,  which  call,  after  being  passed  from 
post  to  post,  and  repeated  by  each  successive  sentinel,  reached 
the  guard  tent,  when  a  Corporal  and  file  of  men,  known  as  a 
"Corporal's  Guard,"  seized  their  arms,  rushed  to  the  point  of 
danger  or  from  whence  the  call  proceeded.  Guard  duty  became 
not  only  exceedingly  wearisome,  but  was  very  generally  regarded 
as  an  intolerable  nuisance. 

At  twelve  o'clock  was  "Dinner  Call,"  the  most  welcome  and 
the  most  eagerly  responded  to  of  any  of  the  almost  innumerable 
calls  which  were  squeaked  and  pounded  out  of  the  bowels  of  fife 


28  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

and  drum.  A  bevy  of  country  lasses,  generally  young  and 
handsome,  were  usually  on  hand  to  share  the  noonday  meal,  but 
none  of  them  were  very  heavy  gormandizers  of  baked  beans, 
fried  pork,  muddy  coffee  arid  bread  without  butter.  "  My 
sakes  !"  says  one,  "No  cream  for  your  coffee?  How  can  you 
drink  it?  Why  does  the  Government  subject  its  soldiers  to  such 
privations  ?"  And  when  the  shocking  fact  was  made  known 
that  the  "boys  "  were  not  even  provided  with  ice  cream,  sponge 
cake,  "blanc  mange,"  and  a  hundred  other  like  articles,  their 
horror  at  the  "hardships"  and  "deprivations"  to  which  the 
"poor  boys  "  were  subjected,  knew  no  bounds. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  was  "  Assembly,"  at  the  sound 
of  which  each  company  fell  into  line,  in  front  of  camp.  And 
then  came  the  most  prominent  feature  of  the  day,  "  Dress 
Parade,"  when  the  whole  regiment  was  drawn  up  in  line,  number 
ing  at  least  one  thousand  men,  making  a  very  fine  appearance. 
The  band  played  a  march  and  quickstep  along  the  line  and  back 
again,  and  then  they  were  marshalled  by  Adjutant  Willis  and 
turned  over  to  the  Colonel,  who  put  them  through  a  series  of  post 
ures  and  facings ;  after  which  the  Orderly  Sergeants  marched  to 
the  front  and  reported.  Then  the  commissioned  officers  proceeded 
to  the  center ;  faced  to  the  front ;  proceeded  in  line  to  the  Colonel ; 
saluted  him ;  were  either  complimented  or  criticised,  and  then  dis 
missed;  while  the  different  companies  were  marched  to  their  quar 
ters  by  the  Orderlies. 

At  nine  p.  m.,  while  the  carnp  was  bubbling  over  with  mirth, 
song  and  story,  and  all  seemed  to  be  in  a  furor  of  discordant  con 
versation  and  laughter,  was  heard  "Tattoo,"  the  finest  effort  of 
music  during  the  day,  consisting  of  a  wild  outburst  or  medley  of 
several  pieces  played  by  the  full  band,  which  had  a  peculiarly 
magnificent  and  exhilarating  effect  in  combination  with  the  dark- 


CORPORAL    OF    THE    GUARD.  29 

ness  and  solemnities  of  the  night.  This  was  succeeded  by  roll 
call,  and  then  the  men  were  expected  to  go  to  their  quarters  ;  and 
at  "  taps,"  which  consisted  of  a  few  beats  of  the  drum  at  the  head 
of  each  company  quarters,  lights  were  extinguished.  The  hum  of 
voices  gradually  subsided  as  one  and  another  retired  to  rest,  clos 
ing  their  eyes  in  brief  oblivion  of  the  world,  its  cares,  its  toils, 
its  joys  and  sorrows.  Thus  were  the  duties  incident  to  camp  life 
performed  with  the  regularity  and  certainty  of  a  clock. 

About  the  most  important  personage  at  Camp  Hammond  was 
that  ubiquitous  dignitary  known  as  the  "  Corporal  of  the  Guard," 
before  whom  the  ordinary  "high  private"  might  be  considered  as 
a  mere  serf  kneeling  before  his  imperial  footstool.  It  was  per 
fectly  astonishing  how  high  a  little  brief  authority  raised  some 
men  in  their  own  estimation.  When  in  the  course  of  human 
events  these  great  men  condescended  to  perform  their  share  of 
the  duties  pertaining  to  camp,  their  dignified  air  and  tone  of 
authority  at  once  proclaimed  a  consciousness  of  their  own  impor 
tance.  One  would  think,  to  see  them  blustering  and  domineer 
ing  through  camp,  that  not  only  the  existence  of  the  Regiment, 
but  the  eternal  welfare  of  the  country  depended  upon  them 
alone,  and  that  their  creation  was  the  only  work  of  any  conse 
quence  performed  by  an  all-wise  and  beneficent  Creator.  No 
men  in  any  other  position,  if  they  should  try  a  lifetime,  could 
succeed  so  well  in  making  donkeys  of  themselves. 

At  length,  after  days  and  weeks  of  anxious  watching  and 
weary  waiting,  the  uniforms  arrived  on  the  23d  of  September. 
"Fall  in,  men,"  was  the  Captain's  order,  which  was  quickly 
responded  to.  Each  company  being  formed  in  line  before  that 
officer's  tent,  the  roll  was  called,  and  each  man  in  response  to 
his  name  went  forward  and  soon  returned  with  drawers,  pants, 
coat  and  cap  hanging  on  his  arm,  and  looking  proud  over  his 


30  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

newly  acquired  treasures.  In  expectation  of  the  speedy  arrival 
of  the  regulation  blue,  the  men  had  left  their  "  store  clothes  "  at 
home,  and  had  come  to  camp  with  their  half  worn  out  toggery, 
thinking  there  would  be  a  speedy  change  for  other  and  more 
appropriate  costumes ;  but  a  strike  among  seamstresses  or  other 
unavoidable  circumstances  caused  delay,  until  many  had  become 
fit  material  for  scarecrows,  and  the  whole  outfit  in  the  matter  of 
clothing  had  become  a  burlesque  upon  neatness  and  gentility. 
But  after  these  caricature  representation  of  clothes  had  been 
shucked,  and  each  man  had  donned  a  brand  new  uniform,  the 
transformation  was  so  complete  that  one  would  scarcely  recognize 
his  neighbor  or  bunk-mate;  while  the  piles  of  scraps,  shreds, 
cast-off  rags,  and  the  mountains  of  old  hats,  caps,  boots  and 
shoes  which  graced  the  grounds  were  perfectly  astonishing. 

The  new  uniforms  fitted  admirably,  excepting  say  fifty  or  sixty 
to  a  company.  Here  would  be  seen  a  tall,  lank,  ungainly  man, 
as  slim  as  a  whipstalk,  the  unhappy  possessor  of  a  pair  of 
unmentionables  as  loose  and  baggy  as  a  gunny-sack — large 
enough  for  Daniel  Lambert,  and  what  was  still  more  remarkable, 
the  excess  expended  in  breadth  of  beam  was  lacking  in  length, 
and  when  once  enveloping  its  ungainly  possessor,  several  inches, 
more  or  less,  of  naked  legs  would  be  discovered  protruding  from 
below  the  voluminous  folds  of  cloth.  Some  of  the  shorter  ones 
were  able  to  button  their  waistbands  around  their  necks,  and 
then  have  from  six  inches  to  a  foot  of  cloth  to  spare  at  the  bot 
toms;  but  this  defect  was  easily  remedied  by  rolling  them  up  or 
chopping  them  off  with  a  broadaxe.  The  pockets  of  some  were 
too  shallow  to  hold  a  jack-knife,  while  others  were  so  deep  as  to 
suggest  the  idea  of  taking  off  the  pants  entirely  to  enable  one 
to  reach  the  bottom,  and  large  enough  to  hold  a  blanket,  a  shirt, 


UNIFORMING  THE   REGIMENT.  31 

or  even  a  side  of  bacon,  if  necessary.     Some  were  so  tight  as  to 
suggest  cholera  morbus  or  heaves. 

The  coats  fitted  beautifully,  almost  as  well,  in  fact,  as  the 
pants.  A  third  of  them  were  too  large  around  the  waist ;  as 
many  were  too  small  around  the  chest  ;  but  then  these  slight 
drawbacks  admirably  offset  each  other.  The  collars  of  some 
were  but  a  trifle  above  the  small  of  the  wearer's  back,  while  the 
collars  of  others  were  several  inches  above  the  heads  of  their 
owners.  The  sleeves,  too,  had  here  and  there  a  fault.  Some 
were  so  tight  under  the  arms  as  to  nearly  lift  the  possessor  from 
the  ground  ;  others  large  enough  for  a  small  sized  boy  to  crawl 
through ;  as  for  length,  some  did  not  stop  until  the  distance  of 
several  inches  beyond  the  tips  of  the  fingers  had  been  attained, 
while  the  career  of  others  terminated  at  or  near  the  elbows. 
With  these  trifling  exceptions  the  uniforms  fitted  admirably,  and 
the  men  were  universally  pleased  as  well  as  proud  at  the  change 
from  jeans  and  satinets  to  the  garb  of  soldiers  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

The  early  autumn  days  Avere  soft  and  mellow,  with  just  enough 
haze  to  give  the  sky  a  dreamy  appearance,  and  the  weather  was 
generally  even  tempered.  Now  and  then  the  rays  of  the  sun 
poured  down  with  a  fierceness  which  rendered  the  performance 
of  camp  duties  anything  but  a  pleasant  recreation.  Not  always, 
however,  were  the  days  bright  and  the  breezes  balmy.  For 
instance,  on  the  afternoon  of  September  1st,  a  rain  storm,  accom 
panied  with  heavy  thunder  and  wind,  swept  the  camp.  The 
tents  flapped  and  swayed  before  the  blast  and  the  men  expected 
every  moment  to  see  their  canvas  roofs  go  flying  over  the  prairie, 
but  for  two  hours  they  stood  the  test  and  not  a  man  received  a 
wetting.  At  sunset  the  dense  clouds  had  passed  over  and 
gathered  in  the  east,  while  patches  of  clear  sky  betokened  that 


32  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

this  storm  was  over.  But  in  the  west  another  black  cloud  arose 
in  heavy  masses.  The  faint  gleams  of  lightning  illuminating 
the  deep  recesses  of  the  clouds,  together  with  the  unusual  still 
ness  in  the  air,  told  of  another  and  severer  storm  about  to  burst 
upon  us.  It  came  at  length,  and  at  midnight  the  wind  was 
shrieking  among  the  tents  and  the  water  poured  down  in  resist 
less  fury.  The  rain  drove  through  the  canvas  as  though  it  were 
fish  nets  or  mosquito  bars,  and  men  awoke  from  dreams  of  home 
and  other  luxuries  to  find  themselves  wetter  than  if  they  had 
just  emerged  from  the  neighboring  mill  pond.  Here  and  there 
a  tent  would  careen  and  then  tumble  in  dripping  ruins  about  the 
heads  of  the  amazed  inmates,  who,  in  inordinate  haste,  gathered 
up  what  could  be  found  of  their  scattered  wardrobe  and  fled  in 
their  scanty  apparel  to  other  and  safer  quarters.  The  wind  soon 
was  over,  but  the  rain  continued  to  fall  in  torrents.  The  poor 
sentinels  experienced  all  its  fury.  Imagine  one  in  all  the  loneli 
ness  of  such  a  night,  plunging  blindly  through  the  savage  storm, 
staggering  into  some  muddy  rut  or  hollow  and  breasting  a  blast 
of  wind  nearly  sufficient  in  force  to  blow  an  iron  siege  gun  or 
an  elephant  into  space. 

In  the  morning  eight  tents  were  in  ruins,  others  shattered, 
and  the  ground  plastered  with  mud  anywhere  from  three  inches 
to  three  feet  in  depth.  The  Colonel's  quarters,  as  the  printer 
would  have  it,  were  badly  "pied,"  flattened  in  the  mud  and 
bountifully  sprinkled  with  the  blackest  prairie  soil.  A  detail  of 
men  took  it  to  the  river  and  attempted  to  wash  it,  but  that  Head 
quarters  tent  never  after  assumed  the  white  and  spotless  purity 
of  its  primeval  state.  Then  there  were  other  days,  when 

"  There  was  a  gloom  on  the  sky,  and  its  shadow 

Lay  chill  on  the  morning's  pure  breast  ; 
When  the  sunshine  was  hid  from  the  meadows, 
And  nature  with  tears  was  oppressed." 


THE    GOOD    TREATMENT    RECEIVED.  83 

When  the  clouds  would  shed  their  tear  drops  as  if  in  mourning, 
from  morning  till  night,  and  during  the  succeeding  hours  of 
darkness  the  unceasing  drizzle  would  continue  its  sonorous  patter 
upon  the  tent  flies. 

The  Companies  all  received  superb  treatment  from  their  friends 
at  home.  Almost  every  day  they  were  the  recipients  of  boun 
teous  favors;  were  "  wined,"  dined,  and  pic-nicked  to  an  extent 
never  experienced  before.  Calico,  muslins,  ribbons  and  para 
sols  gleamed  like  wild  flowers  hither  and  thither  in  ever  throng 
ing  numbers  to  greet  their  soldier  friends.  At  one  time  eleven 
passenger  coaches,  filled  to  repletion  with  people  from  Elgin  and 
Woodstock,  came  down  to  see  and  feast  their  brave  boys  in  the 
tented  field,  and  as  a  token  of  their  regard  and  an  evidence  of 
good  sense  they  brought  along  huge  baskets  and  boxes  of  all  the 
good  things  their  ingenuity  could  invent  or  their  pantries  yield. 
Truly  did  they  appreciate  the  fact  that  the  avenue  to  a  soldier's 
heart  ran  through  his  stomach,  and  as  the  Regimental  rhymer 

has  it : 

"  'Tis  a  curious  thing  that  people  should  cram 
Mutton  and  beef,  chicken  and  ham, 
Cake,  salmon,  salad,  pickles  and  dace, 
All  through  a  hole  in  the  front  of  the  face." 

Never  went  up  cheers  more  hearty  and  blessings  more  benign 
than  were  showered  upon  the  good  dames  of  Elgin  when  the 
boys  caught  sight  of  that  dinner. 

The  "Young  Americas"  were  also  pic-nicked,  by  the  ladies  of 
Montgomery  and  Bristol  providing  a  feast  of  fat  things,  in  a 
beautiful  grove  east  of  the  village.  The  "  Guards,"  and  a  throng 
of  invited  guests,  fell  into  line  and  marched  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  to  the  tables,  which  were  loaded  down  with  every  substan 
tial  and  delicacy  known  to  the  season,  presenting  a  scene  of 
magnificence  rivaling  the  famed  and  fabled  feasts  of  the  gods. 


34  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

Groups  of  ladies,  the  grace,  goodness  and  beauty  of  the  place, 
detailed  for  that  purpose,  were  at  each  table  to  wait  on  the  sol 
diers,  which  pleasing  duty  they  did  in  a  style  satisfactory  in  the 
highest  degree.  After  hundreds  had  filled  their  inordinate 
capacities  almost  too  full  for  utterance,  there  was  still  enough 
food  left  to  feed  as  many  more.  "  May  heaven  strew  their  paths 
with  blessings,"  was  the  universal  benison  accorded  these  fair 
hostesses,  as  the  men  retired  with  grateful  hearts  and  in  good 
order  from  the  contest. 

An  unfortunate  difference  arose  between  Colonel  Greusel  and 
Lieut.  Walker,  of  the  "  Oswego  Rifles."  This  Company  was 
among  the  first  upon  the  ground,  and  had  largely  been  recruited 
through  the  efforts  of  Walker.  Its  Captain,  S.  C.  Camp,  a  law 
yer  by  profession,  was  better  versed  in  Blackstone  than  Hardee, 
and  much  of  the  drilling  of  the  men  and  more  laborious  duties 
devolved  upon  Lieut.  Walker.  An  auctioneer  by  profession,  he 
could  not  readily  divest  himself  of  his  buying  and  selling  ways 
of  life,  and  his  duties  were  performed  in  "just  a  going,  gentle 
men, — going — going — gone  "  sort  of  a  way,  exciting  the  laugh 
ter  of  some  and  the  disgust  of  others.  About  this  time,  0.  B. 
Merrill,  a  member  of  the  13th  Regiment,  then  on  duty  in  Mis 
souri,  came  to  Aurora  on  a  furlough.  His  brief  military  exper 
ience,  in  the  opinion  of  some,  had  eminently  fitted  him  for  pro 
motion,  and  he  sought  a  commission  in  the  Fox  River  Regiment. 
And  here  let  us  remark,  what  a  great  pity  it  is  that  some  plan 
was  not  devised  whereby  all  enlisted  men  could  be  made  Briga 
diers,  Colonels,  or  at  least  something  that  wore  shoulder  straps. 
Such  a  plan,  it  must  be  readily  perceived,  would  have  resulted 
in  the  most  delightful  harmony  and  efficiency  of  an  army,  beside 
being  particularly  gratifying  to  the  vanity  of  a  majority  of  the 
men. 


FIRST   LIEUTENANCY    OF   COMPANY   I.  35 

To  give  Merrill  a  place  among  the  officers,  a  vacancy  was  nec 
essary,  and  as  in  the  recruiting  of  the  36th  the  offices  were 
most  eagerly  sought  after  and  soonest  filled,  unfortunately  such 
vacancy  did  not  exist.  The  Surgeon  was  called  upon  to  decide 
the  physical  qualifications  of  candidates  for  official  honors. 
Walker  was  alone  found  wanting,  and  thereupon  rejected,  when 
Merrill  at  once  succeeded  to  the  position.  This  arrangement 
was  not  at  all  satisfactory  to  Walker,  who  strenuously  objected 
to  being  so  summarily  disposed  of;  for,  however  much  he 
delighted  in  auctioneering  off  the  goods,  chattels  and  wares  of 
others,  the  rule  when  applied  to  himself  was  not  so  delightful,  and 
he  entered  his  protest  against  such  a  going — going — gone  pro 
cedure.  Walker  hastened  to  Chicago  and  was  examined  by 
other  medical  magnates,  who  pronounced  him  physically  sound, 
or  at  least  sound  enough  for  the  performance  of  military  duty. 

In  the  meantime  Major  Brackett  had  mustered  the  whole  Reg 
iment  and  accepted  it  for  service,  including  0.  B.  Merrill  as 
Lieutenant  of  Co.  I.,  and  on  Walker's  return  to  camp,  backed 
by  his  medical  certificate,  he  found  Lieut.  Merrill  fully  installed 
and  in  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  the  much  coveted  position. 
Walker  claimed  his  position  of  1st  Lieutenant  and  demanded 
his  reinstatement  and  recognition  as  such.  The  Colonel  was  in 
a  towering  rage,  and  ordered  Walker  to  leave  the  camp  instantly, 
and  set  about  measures  to  enforce  the  order  ;  whereupon  Walker, 
thinking  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor,  went.  We  would 
gladly  strike  this  page  from  our  story,  but,  as  an  impartial  his 
torian,  there  is  no  other  resource  than  to  treat  the  good  and  bad 
alike.  This  is  our  apology  for  giving  details  of  an  occurence 
which,  more  than  all  other  causes  combined,  carried  with  it  the 
seeds  of  acrimony  and  dissension. 


36  THIRTY-SIXTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

It  cannot  be  denied  that  for  one  reason  or  another  a  great 
many  "  poor  sticks  "  managed  at  the  outset  to  get  into  positions, 
for  which  they  were  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  unfitted.  Many 
a  Company,  and  Regiment  even,  made  up  of  most  excellent 
material,  have  been  rendered  comparatively  useless  by  having  at 
its  head  an  inefficient  leader.  If  there  was  one  lesson  well 
learned  during  the  first  years  of  the  war,  it  was  the  absolute 
necessity  of  having  men  for  officers  !  Men,  in  the  broad  sense 
of  the  term,  who  had  some  respect  for  themselves  as  well  as  for 
others.  Men  to  stand  firm,  self-possessed,  elevated  and  strength 
ened  by  a  high  sense  of  honor,  of  patriotic  duty  to  their  country, 
to  their  subordinates,  and  to  the  cause  in  which  they  were 
engaged.  Imagine  a  whining  incapable,  leading  a  body  of  men 
upon  a  desperate  bayonet  charge ! 

The  very  first  element  of  success  and  of  discipline  is  the 
respect  of  men  for  their  officers,  and  only  true  men  can  thus 
command  their  respect.  Let  such  a  one  be  found  and  the  rest 
becomes  easy,  whether  he  is  wanted  for  a  General,  a  Colonel  or 
a  Lieutenant.  The  13th  Regiment,  or  even  West  Point  with  all 
its  training  in  camp  or  field,  could  not  manufacture  first-rate 
officers  if  the  iridispensible  ingredients  of  self-respect,  honor, 
temperance,  manliness  and  reserved  force  of  character  are  lack 
ing.  When  war  and  battles  are  resorted  to  in  the  settlement  of 
difficulties,  it  should  be  no  child's  play,  but  the  desperate  exer 
cise  of  all  the  higher  qualities  of  manhood;  for  unless  troops 
are  under  the  control  of  true  men,  defeat  is  inevitable. 

On  the  12th  of  September  Col.  Brackett  appeared,  and  in  his 
official  capacity  as  United  States  Mustering  Officer,  inspected 
and  mustered  the  Regiment  as  a  whole.  Each  Company  in 
single  file  was  slowly  marched  between  a  Board  of  Surgeons, 
and  if  a  limp  was  detected  or  a  man  wore  a  cadaverous  cast  of 


A    FEW    REFUSE    TO    BE    SWORN.  37 

countenance,  he  was  requested  to  stand  aside  and  afterwards 
subjected  to  an  ante  mortem  Coroner's  inquest,  called  Medical 
Examination.  A  few  were  rejected,  and,  notwithstanding  their 
protestations  of  general  good  health  and  appeals  to  remain,  they 
were  obliged  to  take  up  their  traps  and  walk.  The  examination 
over,  the  oath  was  administered  to  the  whole  Regiment,  which 
was  for  the  first  time  designated  the  THIRTY-SIXTH,  and  as  such 
was  booked  for  three  years'  service  in  the  employ  of  that  stu 
pendous  individual,  Uncle  Sam. 

A  few  refused  to  be  sworn  in  and  comply  with  the  conditions 
attached  to  the  service  ;  whereupon  Col.  Joslyn  jerked  them  out 
of  the  ranks,  and  presenting  each  a  note  of  hand  with  the  toe 
of  his  boot,  sent  them  howling  beyond  the  confines  of  camp — 
a  mode  of  mustering  out  not  laid  down  in  the  books,  and  calcu 
lated  to  awaken  a  remembrance  of  so  lively  an  event  to  the 
latest  hours  of  life.  Among  these  were  two  Germans  from 
Co.  E.,  whose  courage  oozing  out  at  this  supreme  moment,  they 
refused  to  take  the  prescribed  oath.  They  were  followed  a  half 
mile  from  camp  by  half  a  hundred  madly  excited  men  and 
remorselessly  kicked  and  hustled  about,  and  as  a  parting  token 
of  remembrance  a  horse  whip  was  unmercifully  administered  to 
their  backs.  Their  piteous  cries  for  mercy  awakened  but  little 
sympathy  from  their  late  and  now  infuriated  comrades. 


CHAPTER    III. 


ROSTER  OF  THE  REGIMENT. 

OLLOWING  is  the  Roster  of  the  36th  Regi 
ment,  on  its  final  muster  and  acceptance  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  at  the 
period  of  its  departure  from  Camp  Ham 
mond  to  Missouri. 


NICHOLAS  GREUSEL, 
EDWARD  S.  JOSLYN,    - 
ALONZO  H.  BARRY, 
GEORGE  A.  WILLIS,    - 
ISAAC  N.  BUCK, 
DELOS  W.  YOUNG, 
SIDNEY  W.  HAWLEY, 
JETHRO  A.  HATCH,     - 
GEORGE  G.  LYON,  - 


Colonel. 

Lieut.  Colonel. 

Major. 

Adjutant. 

Quartermaster. 

Surgeon. 

1st  Assistant  Surgeon. 

2d  Assistant  Surgeon. 

-    Chaplain. 


COMPANY    A. 
MELVIN  B.  BALDWIN,  Captain. 
EDWARD  S.  CHAPPEL,  1st  Lieutenant. 
WILLIAM  S.  SMITH,  2d  Lieutenant. 


ROSTER    OF    THE    REGIMENT. 


39 


ENLISTED   MEN, 

George  D.  Sherman.  1st  Sergeant. 
Franklin  J.  Thwing,   Sergeant. 
Alexander  C.  Lynd,  Sergeant. 
Sanford  H.  Wakeman,  Sergeant. 
Alexander  Robinson,  Sergeant. 
Walter  J.  Ordway,  Corporal. 
Leslie  P.  Ticknor,  Corporal. 
John  W.  Aldrich,  Corporal. 
Benj.  D.  C.  Roland,  Corporal. 
Leroy  Salisbury,  Corporal. 
William  H   Mitchell,  Corporal. 
John  S.  Long,  Corporal. 
Frank  B.  Perkins   Corporal. 
Charles  B.  Styles,  Musician. 
Bray  man  Loveless,  Musician. 
Albert  Andrews. 
Bernan  N.  Adams. 
Charles  A.  Brown. 
Daniel  W.  Brown. 
Patrick  Brannon. 
Fred.  H.  Birmaster. 
Christopher  P.  Baker. 
John  B.  Burr. 
Elijah  Buck. 
Leman  Bartholomew. 
John  Bluckman. 
Buel  M.  Chapman- 
Charles  G.  Cox. 
Henry  Clayson. 
Alexander  Chambers. 
Hugh  Duffee. 
Cyrus  F.  Dean. 
William  Dade. 
Freeman  S.  Dunkler. 
Jeptha  C.  Dennison. 
Thomas  Fenner. 
John  Flood. 
John  Faulkner. 
Henry  Ford. 
Charles  H.  Gales. 
Patrick  Gibbons. 
Moses  T.  Gibbs. 


COMPANY   A. 

Charles  A.  Holsie. 
James  Halberton. 
David  F.  Jayne. 
George  M.  Johnson. 
Leverett  M.  Kelley. 
Frederick  Krahan. 
Addison  A   Keyes. 
George  M.  Lake. 
James  H.  Moore. 
Isaac  N.  Miner. 
Leonard  W .  Nann. 
Edward  Nute. 
John  O'Connell. 
Chandler  Preston. 
Edmund  H.  Robinson 
Charles  B.  Rapp. 
William  F.  Sylla. 
Michael  Seisloff. 
George  H.  Kimball. 
Romane  Kilburn. 
George  H.  Knowles. 
Peter  Little. 
Alex  Manahan. 
Tobias  Miller. 
Lewis  F.  Miller. 
Dorus  Murus. 
Fenelon  J.  Nicholas. 
Charles  Olesyeski 
George  L.  Peeler. 
Augustus  Ritze. 
Timothy  Ring. 
Fred.  A   Raymond. 
Duporral  Sampson. 
Tolmus  Stan  ton. 
Adelbert  Shaw. 
Lewis  H.  Severine. 
Charles  L.  Themer. 
Milton  S.  Townsend. 
James  M.  Vining. 
John  A.  White. 
Homer  H.  Wilcox. 
Joseph  N.  Yerkers. 


40 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


ENLISTED    MEN   COMPANY    A. 


Alonzo  S  Harpeuding. 
Louis  B.  Householder. 
Jeremiah  C.  Hall. 
Daniel  B.  Hoxie. 
Alex.  F.  Henderson. 
Henry  Howe. 
John  A.  Hewett. 
Frank  W.  Raymond. 

Ninety-nine  officers  and  enlisted  men. 


Merrill  H.  Sabin. 
Clarence  H.  Truax. 
A.  Byron  Thomas. 
John  B.  F.  Taylor. 
Arzotus  White. 
Ebson  J.  Wickwire. 
Jeremiah  Whitford. 


COMPANY    B. 

SILAS  MILLER,  Captain. 

JOSEPH  M.  WALKER,  1st  Lieutenant. 

BENJ.  F.  CAMPBELL,  2d  Lieutenant. 


ENLISTED 


George  P.  Douglas,  1st  Sergeant. 
Samuel  Hitchcock,  Sergeant. 
Abner  Field,  Sergeant. 
French  Brownlee,  Sergeant. 
Charles  W.  Rhodes,  Sergeant. 
Win.  F.  Blakeslee,  Corporal. 
Emery  D.  Haselton,  Corporal. 
Thomas  Flinn,  Corporal. 
William  Warner,  Corporal. 
Ezra  W.  Parker,   Corporal. 
Owen  Hughes,  Corporal. 
Jno.  H.  Gronberg,  Corporal. 
Wm   H.  Dugan,  Corporal. 
George  Brewer,  Musician. 
Willard  Pettengill,  Musician. 
John  F.  Lilley,  Wagoner. 
Henry  Alcott. 
Charles  G.  Ayers. 
Thomas  Boyd. 
Rudolph  Brager. 
Christian  Brunnemeyer. 
Arba  Camp. 
James  B.  Campbell. 
William  L.  Campbell. 
Thomas  Cowan. 


MEN. 

Nathaniel  P.  McCutcheon. 
Jno.  C.  Donnell. 
Frank  Dugan. 
Jno.  W.  Edwards. 
Jno.  Eddy. 
Jno.  W.  Evans. 
Leasonton  Galloway. 
Charles  M.  Harvey. 
Charles  G.  Hemze . 
David  T.  Hogue. 
William  Jackson. 
Sidney  E .  Kendall. 
Franklin  Leet. 
Robert  Logan. 
Elihu  Mahew. 
Thomas  McConnell. 
Joseph  McGee. 
George  W.  Miller. 
Nathaniel  M.  Moore. 
William  Ott. 
VanWyck  Race. 
Henry  Reitz. 
George  Reitz. 
Daniel  B.  Roberts. 
William  Scheffer. 


ROSTER    OF   THE    REGIMENT. 


41 


Ernst  Ansorge. 
George  Berger. 
William  H.  Brandon. 
Oliver  F.  Brownlee. 
George  H.  Burns. 
Adam  R.  Campbell. 
Sylvester  Campbell. 
Thomas  Clark. 
Daniel  Davis. 
Thomas  Donnell. 
Robert  Drane. 
Carl  Eckhart. 
James  Eddy. 
Frederick  Emde. 
Jno  Fife. 

William  H.  Hartless. 
Frederick  Heine.  • 
Dow  Hodges. 
Thomas  E.  Hornby. 
Jno.  H  Karle. 
Henry  B  Latham. 
Henry  Levoy. 
Brayton  Loyd. 
David  McClurg. 

Ninety-eight  officers 


ENLISTED    MEN,    COMPANY  B. 

Fritz  Stevens. 
William  A.  Tobey. 
Frank  Thompson 
Charles  W.  Travis. 
William  Waterman. 
Joel  J.  Wilder. 
Elanthan  S.  Weeden. 
Fritz  Wokersein. 
Jno.  Ott. 
Peter  Pelican. 
Edward  Pierce. 
Jefferson  Reed. 
Adam  Rietz. 
Henry  L.  Ribby. 
Charles  W.  Sears. 
Thomas  W.  Sedgwick. 
Charles  E.  Strong. 
Daniel  Terry. 
Robert  N.  Thompson. 
William  Van  Ohlin. 
Alfred  J.  West. 
Jacob  Winn. 
James  H.  Woodard. 
Christian  Zimmer. 
and  enlisted  men. 


COMPANY    C. 
ELIAS  B.  BALDWIN,  Captain. 
JAMES  B.  McNEiL,  1st  Lieutenant. 
JOHN  M.  TURNBULL,  2d  Lieutenant. 


ENLISTED 

Jacob  Sands,  Sergeant. 
John  A.  Porter,  Sergeant. 
Ebenezer  A.  Crawford,  Sergeant. 
Scott  Brownlee,  Sergeant. 
David  S.  Irwin,  Sergeant. 
George  N.  Mercer,  Corporal. 
David  B.  Brownlee,  Corporal. 
Robert  Gilmore,  Corporal. 
James  J.  Wilson,  Corporal. 


MEN. 

William  M.  Gibson. 
Hugh  W.  Harper. 
William  Haitzell. 
Ferdinand  Hercher. 
Huston  Henderson. 
Oscar  Jennie. 
Warren  Kintzey. 
Henry  H.  Lord. 
John  W.  McCoy. 


42 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


ENLISTED    MEN,    COMPANY    C. 


Jacob  A .  Pearce,  Corporal. 

James  M.  Pollock,  Corporal. 

William  Ward,  Corporal. 

Wm.  Kingsland,  Corporal. 

James  L.  Dryden,  Musician. 

Joseph  E.  Young,  Musician. 

Elisha  L.  Atkins. 

Wm.  S.  Allen. 

Joseph  W.  Arthurs. 

Wm.  C.  Azdel. 

Valentine  Angles. 

Wm.  T.  Arthurs. 

James  Armstrong. 

Charles  B.  Bailey. 

Joseph  Baxter. 

Franklin  Beck. 

Thomas  G.  Barton. 

Isaiah  Baughman. 

Isaac  Carson . 

Isaac  N.  Carey. 

George  Dowell. 

James  Davis. 

James  Elder. 

William  Fisher. 

John  Q.  Graham, 

Robert  Gillmore. 

Orlando  Hayes. 

John  F.  Henderson. 

John  H.  Harris. 

Lafayette  Butt. 

Nathaniel  T.  Baird. 

Daniel  P.  Baldwin. 

Huston  Buchanan. 

John  G.  Cavis. 

William  P.  Criswell. 

Enos  Constant. 

Harvey  P.  Donnell. 

Albert  Eckelson. 

John  B.  Edgar. 

Richard  Godfrey. 

One  hundred  and  one  officers 


Frank  McClanahan. 
Joseph  McGregor. 
William  C.  McElroy. 
Jacob  W.  Moss. 
Ezra  E.  Munson. 
George  W.  Nichols 
Lafayette  M.  Pike. 
James  Ralston. 
Carvasso  Reeder. 
Jacob  Stewart. 
Benjamin  W.  Sawins. 
Hugh  Shearer. 
Ethan  Keck. 
Thomas  Leggett. 
George  Monroe. 
Stephen  W.  Mattison. 
James  C.  McPherin. 
Jno.  K.  McMullin. 
William  A.  Mitchell. 
Ralph  Miller. 
George  Nelson. 
Samuel  Paxton. 
William  Patterson 
Walter  V.  Reeder. 
Orestes  A.  Spickerman. 
John  Shook. 
William  Shearer. 
John  H.  Smith. 
Ezra  Schotts. 
Isaac  Stewart. 
John  P.  Tice. 
Henry  Way  staff. 
Samuel  N.  Wilson. 
Ezekiel  Wimmer. 
Abraham  Stewart. 
William  R.  Toll. 
George  W.  Thompson. 
John  H.  Ward. 
John  Wilson. 
Gamble  S.  Wright, 
and  enlisted  men . 


ROSTER   OF   THE   REGIMENT. 


43 


COMPANY    D. 

WILLIAM  P.  PIERCE,  Captain. 
JOHN  VAN?ELT,  1st  Lieutenant. 
GEORGE  D.  PARKER,  2d  Lieutenant. 


ENLISTED  MEN. 


Edward  P .  Cass,  Sergeant. 
Mercelon  B.  Gaylord,  Sergeant. 
Alexander  Stickles,  Sergeant. 
Joseph  C.  Thompson,  Sergeant. 
Isaac  N.  Beebe,  Sergeant. 
Clinton  Lloyd,  Corporal. 
David  Sutherland,  Corporal. 
William  T.  Maycroft,  Corporal. 
William  C.  Benedict,  Corporal. 
John  C.  Taylor,  Corporal. 
William  Stewart,  Corporal. 
Thomas  Dillon,  Corporal. 
Andrew  L.  Scofield,  Corporal. 
Henry  T.  Kellom,  Musician. 
VV  illiam  P.  Birgess,  Musician . 
Newton  J.  Abbott. 
Joseph  Apley. 
Sidney  M.  Abbott. 
Lyndon  K.  Bannister. 
Henry  F.  Birch. 
Jacob  M.  Burgess. 
Joseph  Bushnell. 
Rensler  Carpenter. 
Seth  Darling. 
Clark  W.  Edwards. 
Nelson  Erickson. 
Alfred  H.  Gaylord. 
Allen  M.  Alvord. 
Louis  P.  Boyd. 
James  A.  Baker. 
Allen  Brown. 
Benjamin  F.  Burgess. 
Charles  H.  Bissell. 
William  B.  Cady. 
William  Duckworth. 
Oliver  Edniond. 


John  Menley. 
Miles  Murray. 
William  T .  Pyle. 
John  A.  Paige. 
Nelson  Peck. 
Luther  Gates. 
John  Graham. 
Thomas  Harrop. 
Joseph  W.  Hinsdale. 
Thomas  Jones. 
Peter  A.  Johnson. 
William  C.  Knox. 
Charles  G.  Langdon. 
John  Larking. 
Edward  Lars. 
John  Miller. 
Aaron  Mills. 
Ole  N.  Oleson . 
Francis  Phelps. 
William  Peck. 
Aspin  Peterson. 
Joseph  Phipps. 
Joseph  A   Smith. 
Louis  R.  Seymour. 
Phillip  Stage. 
Charles  Seymour. 
Thor.  Thorson. 
Samuel  Tucker. 
Ezra  Taylor. 
George  Thumb. 
Thomas  Vernon. 
Thomas  Welch. 
Chester  F.  Wright. 
Andrew  T.  Wilsey. 
John  Wilson. 
George  W.  Raymond. 


44  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

ENLISTED    MEN,   COMPANY   D. 

George  Goodwin.  Dana  Sherrill. 

Willard  W.  Gifford.  Thomas  Shaw. 

Remington  F.  Gilmore.  Edward  Seymour. 

Eben  Gates.  Joseph  Shaw. 

James  Hurst.  George  S.  Tompkins. 

Frank  Henning.  James  Thorp. 

John  Hyer.  Ole  H.  Thompson. 

Ole  H.  Johnson.  Garrett  G.  Vreeland. 

Andrew  Johnson.  Jno.  E.  Williams. 

Harvey  Kimball.  Joseph  Whitham. 

William  Lloyd.  Wright  F  Washburn. 

James  M.  Leach.  George  W.  Woods. 

David  Mellor.  Samuel  Young. 
One  hundred  and  one  officers  and  enlisted  men. 

COMPANY    E. 

CHARLES  D.  FISH,  Captain. 
ALBERT  M.  HOBBS,  1st  Lieutenant. 
WILLIAM  H.  CLARK,  2d  Lieutenant. 

ENLISTED  MEN. 

George  S.  Bartlett,  Sergeant.  Charles  T.  Etchell. 

Lucian  F.  Heminway,  Sergeant.  Uriah  Foster. 

William  Hall,  Sergeant.  Oscar  S.  Howe. 

Orson  Smith,  Sergeant.  Judson  W.  Hanson. 

Robert  B.  Ralston,  Sergeant.  James  Harrel. 

David  G.  Cromwell,  Corporal.  William  Hunter . 

Daniel  Whitney,  Corporal.  Joseph  Howard. 

Hiram  Wagner,  Corporal.  Henry  J.  Hodge. 

Stanley  Bushnell,  Corporal.  Peter  Johnson. 

William  J.  Willett,  Corporal.  Gilbert  Ketchum. 

Lyman  G.  Bennett,  Corporal.  Elisha  E.  Lloyd . 

Thomas  P.  Hill,  Corporal.  George  E.  Lownsberry. 

Herbert  Dewey,  Corporal.  George  Lanigan. 

Peter  Schryver,  Musician.  Henry  Mullen. 

William  Todd,  Musician.  James  E.  Moss. 

John  W.  Alston.  George  W.  Matthews. 

James  II.  Alston.  Amos  Norton. 

Comfort  Brace.  Reuben  W.  Perrin. 

James  N.  Baird.  Oscar  Pecoy. 

George  W.  Beane.  Melancton  Rose. 

Christopher  M.  Baker.  Charles  H.  Scofield. 


ROSTER   OF   THE   REGIMENT. 


45 


Henry  C.  Baxter. 
Frederick  Beier. 
Delmar  Burnside. 
Eugene  Benoit. 
Alfred  Bullard. 
James  Brown. 
Mat  Blu. 
Milton  Cornell. 
James  Carlin. 
Edgar  S.  Case. 
Charles  W.  Doane. 
Aaron  Darnell. 
Bradley  W.  Doane. 
Ira  O.  Fuller. 
Amasa  Gage. 
Henry  Haigh. 
Holvar  Hanson. 
Erastus  Beecher. 
Christ  Batterman. 
John  Bush. 
John  Brace. 
William  Burgess. 
Hobert  D.  Carr. 
Patrick  Connor. 
Henry  Collman. 
Silas  F .  Dyer. 
Charles  W.  Doty. 
Daniel  J.  Darnell. 
One  hundred  officers 


ENLISTED   MEN,    COMPANY   E. 

James  S.  Hatch. 
Henry  Hanness. 
Thomas  Ives. 
Sylvester  M.  Jay. 
Augustus  Kasten. 
Hamlet  Livens. 
James  A.  Lanigan. 
Silas  T.  Marlette. 
Edwin  J   McMullen. 
Nicholas  Meehan. 
George  Merrill. 
John  Pfensteil. 
Cyrus  Perry. 
John  Ray. 
Walter  S  Ralston. 
Benjamin  Sayers. 
Lewis  Schafer. 
Thomas  P.  Titlow. 
William  Woolen weber. 
Joel  Wagner. 
Barney  Wheeler. 
William  W.  Zellar. 
Henry  Smith. 
Stephen  Winans. 
Jacob  Wolf. 
Carlton  D.  Ward. 
Edward  R.  Zellar. 

and  enlisted  men. 


COMPANY    F. 

PORTER  C.  OLSON,  Captain. 
GEORGE  F.  STONAX,  1st  Lieutenant. 
MARTIN  C.  WILSON,  2d  Lieutenant. 


ENLISTED  MEN. 


George  G.  Biddolph,  Sergeant- 
Richard  H.  Watson,  Sergeant. 
George  K.  Waun,  Sergeant. 
LaRue  P.  Southworth,  Sergeant. 
Thomas  L.  Bowen,  Sergeant. 
George  W.  Mossman,  Corporal. 


John  Olson. 
James  W.  Olson. 
Oren  II .  Price. 
Sweet  A.  Peterson. 
Peter  Philljps. 
William  G.  Hnggett. 


46 


THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 


ENLISTED    MEN, 

Loren  L.  Olson,  Corporal. 

Bergo  Thompson,  Corporal. 

Ole  O.  Brevick,  Corporal. 

George  Neff,  Corporal. 

Michael  Boomer,  Corporal. 

William  Eyebond,  Corporal. 

William  II.  Mossman,  Corporal. 

Samuel  Brimhall,  Musician. 

Norman  C.  Dean,  Musician. 

Erasmus  Anderson. 

Michael  W.  Bastian, 

James  R.  Biddolph. 

George  A.  Cummins. 

Stephen  C.  Cummins. 

William  Curtis. 

William  H.  Cotlew. 

George  W.  Dessalet. 

Theodore  P.  French. 

John  Green. 

Luther  Haskins. 

John  J.  Hamilton. 

William  Browning. 

Lewis  E.  Beldin. 

Christian  Christiansen. 

William  Coltrip. 

Aben  Christophersou. 

Edwin  Dopp. 

William  II.  Eastman. 

James  S.  Foster. 

Gunner  Gunnerson. 

Oscar  P.  Hobbs. 

William  D.  Hibbard. 

Raynard  Holverson. 

James  H.  Hall. 

Jno.  T.  Johnson. 

Canute  K.  Johnson. 

Ira  M.  Johnson. 

Ira  Larson. 

Christ  Lind. 

John  Lamb. 

Warren  C.  Massey. 

Henry  J.  Metabach. 

Francis  A.  Mossman. 

One  hundred  officers  and  enlisted  men 


COMPANY    F. 

John  J.  Jordan. 
Ferriss  Johnson. 
Alfred  Johnson 
William  E.  Jackson. 
Lars  L  arson  % 
Alexander  Lipsky . 
Alfred  Melton. 
Anton  Myer. 
William  McClary. 
Nels  L.  Ndson. 
Lewis  Olson . 
Thomas  Orstad.  « 
Canute  Phillips. 
William  J.  Pletch. 
Walter  E.  Patridge. 
George  F.  Roots. 
Charles  N.  Ralph. 
Emra  Strait. 
Reuben  Sweetland. 
Richard  Spraddling. 
Henry  M.  Seymour. 
James  Sifleet. 
Paul  Stevenson. 
Alfred  Toinlin. 
Thomas  Thompson. 
Augustus  P.  VanOrder. 
Thomas  J.  Wilson. 
Daniel  Warden. 
Charles  Wangler. 
John  H.  Roots. 
Alfred  Riggs. 
Frederick  W.  Sly . 
Cornelius  Seward. 
Simeon  L.  Smith. 
Charles  F.  Sweetland. 
Benjamin  Stevenson. 
John  Thompson. 
William  Thompson. 
Andrew  L.  Turner. 
Jno.  Howard  Whitney. 
Albert  H  Wulff. 
Henry  Waldsinith. 


ROSTER    OF   THE    REGIMENT. 


47 


COMPANY    a. 

IRVING  W.  PARKHURST,  Captain. 
ABEL  LONGWORTH,  1st  Lieutenant. 
ROBERT  N.  DENNING,  2d  Lieutenant. 


ENLISTED    MEN. 


Linus  J.  Austin,  Sergeant. 
Jno.  A.  Dispennet,  Sergeant. 
Jno.  S.  Fairman,  Sergeant. 
Herman  J.  Barstow,  Sergeant. 
Thomas  W.  Chandler,  Sergeant. 
Henry  J.  Ray,  Corporal. 
Abiah  R.  Jordan,  Corporal. 
Cyrus  S.  Brayton,  Corporal. 
Edward  Collins,  Corporal. 
Peter  Bradt,  Corporal. 
William  E.  Hunt,  Corporal. 
Robert  R.  Bradshaw,  Corporal. 
William  Britt  Corporal. 
Frank  Mallory,  Musician. 
Zeroy  P.  Hotchkiss,  Musician. 
Charles  A.  Browning. 
Peter  Buchanan. 
Jesse  H .  Brown. 
George  M.  Birdsell. 
David  Bardwell. 
Robert  Briarly. 
David  Boyer. 
Francis  M.  Bradshaw. 
Dyer  O.  Clark. 
Isaac  Corson. 
Charles  H.  Chandler. 
Nathaniel  G.  Curry. 
Jno.  Corkins. 
Wallace  Ellis. 
William  R.  Foulk. 
William  S.  Gibson. 
William  Galloway. 
Eber  Hulser. 
Joseph  Hebert. 
Daniel  Hart. 
Edward  Hume 


James  Halkyard. 
Robert  B.  Howie. 
George  W.  Hulse 
William  H.  Irons. 
Lewis  Jones. 
William  H.  Jones. 
Daniel  Kennedy 
Edward  Lyons. 
James  S   Lear. 
Adam  Mills. 
Thomas  Malcomb. 
Sylvester  Meecham. 
Ansel  F.  Norton. 
Andrew  Nevill. 
Charles  Pratt. 
New  in  an  Perkins. 
Wilbur  F.  Roseman. 
Daniel  D.  Radabaugh. 
James  Royds. 
Seth  Slyter. 
William  F.  Severns. 
William  Kerns. 
Cyrus  E.  Libby. 
Charles  Landon . 
George  W.  Moody. 
George  B.  Munger. 
James  Meecham. 
Henry  C.  Miles. 
Harvey  D.  Norton. 
Thomas  Olson. 
Charles  L.  Perry. 
Abijah  Prouty. 
James  Roseman. 
McClure  Rowan. 
William  Rolley. 
Benjamin  Stephens. 


48 


THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 


ENLISTED    MEN,    COMPANY    G. 

•'Trons-  Joseph  F.  Saunders. 

Robert  Jordan.  William  M   gtitt 

Michael  Corcoran.  Henry  Spellman. 

William  H.  Chamberlain.  Wilson  Small 

Beriah  Clark-  Samuel  Sattniarsh 

Daniel  Graver.  Job  Whybrow 

Patrick  Corkins.  Milton  G  Yarnell 

Lewis  B.  Dawson.  Alexander  M.  Stitt 

Evin  Edwards.  Martin  gmer, 

Joseph  Fogt.  Franklin  Small. 

William  Gould.  David  M.  Vandentan. 

Aquilla  Hart.  Asa  Wine!ni,ler 

Zalmon  F.  Hulser.  Nicholas  Zimm^r 
One  hundred  and  one  officers  and  enlisted  men. 

COMPANY    H. 

MERRIT  L.  JOSLYN,  Captain. 
ALFRED  H.  SELLERS,  1st  Lieutenant. 
CHARLES  F.  DYKE,  2d  Lieutenant. 

ENLISTED  MEN. 

Augustus  L.  Patterson,  Sergeant.  Edward  E.  Kapple 

Morris  Briggs,  Sergeant.  Wiison  Lawson 

Theodore  L.  Griffin.  Sergeant.  Albert  S.  Moore 

renry  H.  Hayde.i,  Sergeant.  Jame8  McDargh 

Horace  N.  Chittenden,  Corporal.  Harrison  Montgomery 

Henry  F.  Baldwin,  Corporal.  Henry  O.  Murray 

Myron  A.  Smith,  Corporal.  Orlando  W.  Nash 

Oscar  H.  Ford,  Corporal.  Jno.  Nemire. 

Akin  S.  Bunker,  Corporal.  James  K.  Perkins. 

N.  B   Sherwood,  Corporal.  George  D.  Greenleaf 

Myron  D.  Kent,  Corporal.  David  Hartman. 

Day  Elmore,  Musician  Jno  Holderman 

Lillibrun  B.  Agnew.  Myron  Harris. 

Elijah  Adams.  Calvin  F   Joneg 

Hobcrt  Archibald.  Q            G  Jackson 

Orrin  II.  Benson  Casius  Ki      ljn 

Samuel  Z.  Carver.  Lorenzo  D.  Keys 

Jackson  Conroe.  Ebenezer  B.  Lamb. 

Dailiel  Clark'  Robert  Morton. 

Charles  E.Dygert.  Thomas  Miller. 


ROSTER   OF   THE   REGIMENT.  49 

ENLISTED    MEN,    COMPANY    H. 

Thomas  Finlayson.  Frederick  Marcus. 

Jno.  P.  Floyd.  Cyrus  Merrick. 

Jerome  C.  Ford.  Andrew  Nelson. 

Jno.  G.  Fitch.  Charles  E.  Owels. 

Madison  W.  Gould.  Allen  Picket. 

Benjamin  Allen.  Orrin  Picket. 

Samuel  Archibald.  Lorenzo  D.  Pease. 

Wallace  Benson,  Jno.  H.  Sackett. 

Morris  Cain.  Dennis  K.  Smith. 

Charles  B  Crawford.  Benjamin  H.  Sedgwick. 

William  Carl.  Gilbert  Traves. 

Hovey  R.  Chittenden.  Madison  M.  Throop. 

Joseph  Duggan.  Banent  Van  Ness. 

Washington  M.  Floyd.  Jno.  H.  Ward. 

William  W.  Floyd.  Julius  H .  Wilbur. 

Henry  B.  Ford.  Jno.  A.  Powell. 

Samuel  M.  Foster.  Philo  E.  Bobbins. 

Andrew  J.  Guiliford.  Andrew  J.  Simonds. 

Stephen  Gates.  Frederick  Smith. 

Franklin  Griffin.  Lavern  Stanton. 

William  Hutchins.  Charles  G.  Thomas. 

James  A.  Hutchins.  Cornelius  Van  Ness. 

Charles  W.  Irish.  David  L.  Wilcox. 

William  H.  Jones.  Jno.  C.  Wolf. 

Robert  Keys.  David  Warnick. 
Ninety-three  officers  and  enlisted  men. 

COMPANY    1. 

SAMUEL  C.  CAMP,  (Japtain. 
ORVILLE  B.  MERRILL,  1st  Lieutenant. 
WILLIAM  F.  SUTHERLAND,  2nd  Lieutenant. 

ENLISTED  MEN. 

Charles  F.  Case,  Sergeant.  Frederick  Miller. 

David  E.  Shaw,  Sergeant.  David  W.  McKay. 

Abram  Wormley,  Sergeant.  Antoine  Miller. 

Gustave  Voss,  Sergeant.  Lawrence  O'Brien. 

James  Ferris,  Sergeant.  Jno.  Roth. 

Hiram  Lowry,  Corporal.  Kimball  Smith. 

Joseph  W.  Halstead,  Corporak  Benedict  Stall. 

Jno.  Lonegan,  Corporal.  Henry  Schell. 


50 


THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 


ENLISTED    MEN, 

Dwight  Smith,  ''orporal. 

B.  J.  Van  Valkeuberg,  Corporal 

Andrew  Turner,  Corporal. 

Orrin  Dickey,  Corporal. 

Henry  Hirse,  Corporal. 

Jacob  J.  Snell,  Musician. 

Levi  Cowan,  Musician. 

George  A  very. 

Samuel  N.  Bartlett. 

Jacob  Earth. 

Henry  H.  Barber. 

Dwight  G.  Cowan. 

Jno.   Cook. 

Jno.  H.  Denton. 

Andrew  Elecker. 

William  Freeze. 

George  Beck. 

Samuel  J.  Brownell. 

E.  W.  Brundage. 

Michael  Cligitt. 

William  Daley. 

Hobart  Doctor. 

Leander  A.  Ellis 

Ferdinand  Gaur. 

Jno.  Grinnel. 

William  lliuchman. 

Nathan  Hunt. 

Coonrod  Learnichel. 

Jno.  Leuthard. 

Seventy -six  oflQcers  and  enlisted  men. 


COMPANY    I. 

Frederick  Shanget. 
Charles  Snyder. 
Elbert  M.Saxton. 
Vincent  Gentsenberg 
Joseph  Hummell. 
Lewis  Ketzel. 
Peter  Lannier. 
Samuel  Mall. 
Stephen  Minard. 
Nicholas  Moletor. 
Jno.  Nolenburg. 
Lewis  Power. 
Martin  Rinehart. 
Jno.  B.  Sage. 
Henry  Schroider. 
Benedict  Stamphley. 
Frederick  Shulingburgh. 
James  Scully. 
Nicholas  Swickhart. 
Christopher  Thake. 
William  Varuer. 
Peter  Wittman. 
Frederick  Witzkey. 
Thomas  Wild. 
Harvey  Tooley 
Christ  Wentz. 
Harvey  Webb. 
James  Wicks. 


COMPANY    K. 

JOHN  Q.  ADAMS,  Captain. 
JAMES  FOLEY,  1st  Lieutenant. 
AARON  C.  HOLDEN,  2nd  Lieutenant. 


ENLISTED  MEN. 

Jno.  F.  Elliott,  Sergeant.  Francis  Judtl. 

Eldridge  Adams,  Sergeant.  Joseph  Levican. 

Matthew  J.  Hammond,  Sergeant.  Abram  Long. 

Romaiii  A.  Smith,  Sergeant  George  B.  Lenhart 


ROSTER   OF   THE   REGIMENT. 


51 


ENLISTED    MEN,    COMPANY    K. 


diaries  Hazelhurst,  Sergeant. 

Theodore  A.  Folson,  Corporal. 

Robert  H.  Starr,  Corporal. 

David  H.  Dickenson,  Corporal. 

Abram  J.  Ketchum,  Corporal. 

William  B.  Giles,  Corporal. 

Eugene  P.  Albro,  Corporal. 

Edward  Reeder,  Corporal. 

Aseph  J.  Adams,  Corporal. 

George  W.  Henimingway,  Musician. 

James  Hazelhurst,  Musician. 

Henry  C.  Allen. 

William  Adams. 

Seneca  Birdsell. 

Peter  Burnett. 

Edward  Clark. 

James  Delany. 

Solomon  Emberlin. 

Samuel  Grundy. 

Thomas  Glove. 

Frederick  Hazelhurst. 

Burton  Honey. 

James  H.  Hogue. 

James  C.  Hogue. 

William  C.  Hall. 

Allen  Burroughs. 

Harrison  W.  Blank. 

John  Clark. 

John  P.  Clark. 

James  Downey. 

John  M.  Gordon. 

George  W.  Gates. 

Michael  Hillard. 

Daniel  Hammond. 

James  M.  Hogue. 

James  Henry  Hogue. 

John  Hodgson. 

George  S.  Hall. 

Eighty-seven  officers  and  enlisted  men. 


Charles  Mongerson. 
Jno.  C.  Minkler. 
Edward  H.  Mayberry. 
George  Monroe. 
Edward  J.  Millay. 
William  S.  Moore. 
Emery  W.  Piatt. 
George  R.  Pollock. 
Jno.  Peterson. 
Benjamin  W.  Simmons. 
Francis  Samson 
Harlan  Sanders. 
Jno.  H.  Johnson. 
George  Lake. 
George  G.  Lyon. 
Jno.  B   Lenhart. 
Thomas  P.  Matteson. 
Thomas  Moffett. 
Charles  J.  Minor. 
Edwin  E.  Monroe. 
James  McCray. 
Samuel  H.  McCartney. 
Simeon  Parsons. 
John  Paul. 
Harrison  Skinner. 
George  M.  Scales. 
Charles  Steines. 
Henry  P.  Sype. 
James  Stevenson. 
Charles  A.  Tucker. 
John  H.  Underwood. 
George  W.  Vail. 
John  F.  Weekes. 
Francis  Turkesbury. 
Cyrus  W.  Underwood. 
Paul  I.  Vanwickland. 
Orrin  Wood. 
Sydney  O.  Wagoner. 


THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

COMPANY    A     CAVALRY. 

ALBERT  JEXKS,  Captain. 

SAMUEL  B.  SHERER,  1st  Lieutenant. 

AZARIAH  C.  FERRE,  2nd  Lieutenant. 


ENLISTED  MEN. 


Albert  Collins,  1st  Sergeant. 

Francis  E.  Reynolds,  Q.  M.  Sergeant. 

Fletcher  J.  Snow,  Sergeant. 

James  J.  Johnson,  Sergeant. 

Fred  O.  White,  Sergeant 

Daniel  Dynan,  Sergeant. 

George  Stewart,  Corporal 

Jerome  B  Marlett,  Corporal. 

Henry  B.  Douglas,  Corporal. 

George  W.  Haydom,  Corporal. 

James  Sirby,  Corporal. 

David  Hill,  jr.,  Corporal. 

Isaac  Rice,  Corporal. 

James  T.  White,  Corporal. 

George  A.  Carson,  Farrier. 

James  J.  Hume,  Saddler. 

James  Allen. 

Charles  Angell. 

Smith  D,  Avery. 

Simeon  Baily. 

James  S.  Barber. 

Henry  Beebe. 

John  Beebe. 

Irwin  M.  Benton 

Joseph  Burley. 

Caleb  B.  Beers. 

Hope  S.  Chapin. 

Able  Colyer. 

Joseph  Carle 

Samuel  W,  Clark. 

Charles  O.  Dorr. 

Edward  F.  Dorr. 

George  L.  Dorr. 

Nathaniel  Duff. 

Henry  C.  Davis. 

Frederick  Elderkin. 


Jesse  Hollenback. 
Nicholas  Hittinger. 
Joseph  Ingham. 
Ira  Jacobs. 
Oliver  H.  Judd. 
James  M.  Kennedy. 
James  E.  Kirkpatrick. 
William  Laws. 
Ole  C.  Langland. 
Richard  Larkin. 
Truman  Lillie. 
Christian  Logan. 
Joseph  R.  Loomis. 
George  H.  McCabe. 
Joseph  F.  McCroskey. 
James  McMullen. 
George  W.  Moon. 
Allen  Mowry. 
Andrew  Nortrip. 
Elias  Nortrip. 
Eugene  Newell. 
Charles  H.  Oderkirk. 
Eugene  D  Odell. 
Aaron  Prickett. 
William  Pride. 
Joshua  Rathbone. 
Patrick  W.  Rigney. 
Thomas  B.  Robinson. 
Royal  S.  Rutherford. 
John  A.  Radley. 
Orrin  Squires. 
Arnold  Starbrock. 
Thomas  J.  Slosson. 
CassiusP.  Snook. 
Edward  W.  Stewart. 
Oliver  C.  Switzer. 


ROSTER    OF    THE    REGIMENT. 


53 


ENLISTED    MEN, 

John  W.  Everts. 

Robert  Frailick. 

Clark  L.  Furguson. 

William  II.  Fox. 

George  Gunter. 

Martin  Glenn. 

Robert  Hascall. 

Thomas  Hampson. 

Gilbert  Heath. 

Chauncy  Hollenback. 

Ninety-five  officers  and  privates. 


COMPANY    A    CAVALRY. 

Lawrence  S.  Tucker. 
Albert  Tubbs. 
Abijah  Tarble. 
Harlow  M.  Tuttle. 
Eleazer  Todd. 
John  Vangorder. 
Charles  Weaver. 
Orrin  Y.  Whitford. 
Charles  F.  Winans. 
Darius  D.  Williams. 


COMPANY    B     CAVALRY. 

HENRY  A.  SMITH,  Captain. 
SAMUEL  CHAPMAN,  1st  Lieutenant. 
JOHN  S.  DURAN,  2d  Lieutenant. 


ENLISTED  MEN. 


Edward  M.  Barnard,  1st  Sergeant. 
Henry  C.  Paddleford,  Sergeant. 
Vernon  0.  Wilcox,  Sergeant. 
John  Lovell,  Sergeant. 
George  W.  Archer,  Sergeant. 
John  W.  Davis,  Sergeant. 
John  McQueen,  Corporal. 
Henry  Weigh tman,  Corporal. 
Henry  C.  Scott,  Corporal. 
Nathan  Lakin,  Corporal. 
William  Duncan,  Corporal. 
Eugene  M.  Griggs,  Corporal. 
John  Baker,  Corporal. 
Schuyler  Rue.  jr.,  Corporal. 
Wallace  S.  Clark,  Bugler. 
John  M.  Paddleford,  Farrier. 
William  Donivan,  Blacksmith. 
Russell  C.  Fowler,  Saddler. 
Julius  C.  Pratt,  Wagoner. 
Myron  J.  Ainick. 
John  Archer. 
Henry  Ball. 
Nathaniel  Brown. 


Charles  F.  Holmes. 
Charles  P.  Kennedy. 
John  M.  Kingsley. 
Christopher  Kingsley. 
James  Knox. 
Abijah  A.  Lee. 
Eben  Lowder. 
Lloyd  T.  Lathrop. 
William  M.  Love. 
William  Mehan. 
John  Muldoon. 
Eugene  Mann. 
Henry  Nelson. 
Thomas  C.  Pennington, 
Peter  D.  Porchet. 
Marquis  L.  Perry. 
David  Peterson. 
Isaac  Peterson. 
Willibm  H.  Pease. 
Abner  A.  Pease. 
George  Perkins. 
Jeremiah  Phelan. 
John  D.  Pringle. 


54 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


ENLISTED    MEN, 

Mortimer  C.  Briggs. 

Edwin  E.  Balch. 

Ephriam  M.  Gardner. 

Robert  Collins. 

William  J.  Christy. 

George  Cox. 

Rnbert  N.  Chrysler. 

Isaiah  B.  Curtis. 

Charles  Collins. 

George.  W.  Campbell. 

Charles  Cooley. 

Harrison  Eaton. 

Edwin  F.  Evarts. 

John  Fraser. 

William  PI.  Fletcher. 

Patrick  Glennon. 

Robert  Gallagher. 

John  Gilbert. 

Norton  N.  Harger. 

Oliver  Hanagan. 

Jerry  Hickey. 

Ninety-one  officers  and  privates. 


COMPANY    B    CAVALRY. 

George  Pettingill. 
Daniel  Rettis. 
Daniel  Reynolds. 
Earl  Robinson. 
Abraham  Rumsey. 
Henry  J.  Rogers. 
William  E.  Satterfield. 
Jnstus  J.  Stringer. 
Amos  D.  Scott. 
Abijah  L.  Strang. 
Charles  L.  Seward. 
Henry  M.  Sawyer. 
James  Shed  don. 
Clark  Tucker. 
John  B.  Thompson. 
George  M.  Winchester. 
Wallace  Wettenpaugh. 
Martin  F.  Wettinpaugh 
Noah  VTalice. 
John  Wagoner. 
Benjamin  Weaver. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

OFF  FOR  THE  WARS. 

TUESDAY,  September  24th,  the  long  expected 
and  much  wished  for  day  of  departure  from 
Camp  Hammond  dawned.  Before  day  the 
men  were  astir,  the  camp  alive  and  buzzing 
like  a  huge  bee  hive.  Hurrahs  would  break 
out  from  some  unexpected  quarter,  which 
were  followed  by  scattering  hurrahs  all  over  camp.  Animation 
beamed  from  every  countenance,  and  soon  after  sunrise  people 
from,  the  country  came  crowding  into  the  camp  by  the  thousand. 
They  came  on  foot,  on  horseback,  and  in  every  conceivable 
kind  of  vehicle  from  a  lumber  wagon  to  a  chaise.  Gaily  dressed 
women,  fair-faced  country  lasses,  hardy  countrymen,  over-dressed 
fops  and  substantial  farmers,  making  up  a  "tremendous  big 
crowd."  were  on  hand,  rendering  the  scene  animated  and  pictu 
resque  beyond  description.  A  larger  assemblage .  never  before 
gathered  on  the  banks  of  the  glistening  Fox  ;  and  never  went 
soldiers  to  fields  of  glory  bearing  kinder  wishes  for  their  welfare, 
or  more  heartfelt  adieus  at  their  departure.  Eyes  unused  to 
weeping  were  dimmed  with  mistiness,  and  hearts  throbbed  heavily 
with  painful  thoughts  as  the  order  was  given  to  strike  tents,  and 


56  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

in  ten  minutes  the  prairie  which  had  been  flecked  with  snowy 
canvass  was  littered  with  heaps  of  straw,  old  clothes,  hats,  bun 
dles  of  rags,  fire  places,  boards  arid  ruined  bunks. 

At  4  P.  M.  the  column  was  formed,  and  headed  by  the  band, 
we  bade  adieu  to  Camp  Hammond  forever  ;  marched  to  Aurora 
and  embarked  in  a  long  train  of  passenger  coaches  which  awaited 
us,  and  amidst  the  deafening  shout  of  thousands  the  train  moved 
away.  Scarcely  a  sad  face  was  seen  in  the  regiment,  and  if 
flashing  eyes  and  loud  huzzahs  were  an  index  of  the  feelings 
within,  all  departed  with  joy  and  gladness.  On  the  line  of 
railroad  our  departure  had  been  heralded  in  advance,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  the  whole  population  were  out,  lining  the  track  to 
bid  us  God  speed.  Bonfires  blazed,  guns  were  fired,  and  the 
evening  air  was  stirred  with  shouting  as  we  passed  swiftly  through 
the  villages  which  dotted  the  country.  At  Arlington,  in  Bureau 
County,  where  we  stopped  a  few  minutes  for  water,  crowds  of 
ladies  flocked  to  the  train  to  welcome  and  shake  the  hands  of 
their  gallant  defenders.  At  Galesburg  the  citizens  thronged 
the  station,  and  were  profuse  in  complimenting  the  fine  appear 
ance  of  the  men.  A  group  of  cavalrymen,  with  Major  Barry  in 
their  midst,  while  standing  on  the  platform  at  the  depot  with 
their  overcoats  and  clean  uniforms  on,  attracted  the  attention  of 
a  citizen,  who  remarked,  while  looking  at  the  squad,  "They  have 
a  fine  looking  set  of  field  officers."  Whether  the  Major  alone 
appropriated  the  compliment,  or  regarded  it  as  a  drive  at  the 
officers,  was  not  ascertained.  We  reached  Quincy  at  3  P.  M., 
September  25th,  and  soon  the  work  of  transferring  cavalry  horses, 
tents  and  regimental  stores  to  the  steamer  Warsaw  commenced. 
Those  of  the  men  not  detailed  for  that  purpose  found  quarters  in 
an  empty  warehouse;  many,  however,  remained  in  the  cars,  and 
doubling  up  like  jack-knives,  sought  repose  in  the  seats. 


RETURN    OF    COL.    MULLIGAN'S    MEN.  57 

A  thousand  or  more  of  Mulligan's  men  had  arrived  at  Quincy 
from  their  defeat  at  Lexington,  and  each  had  his  story  of 
adventures,  of  hardship  and  suffering  to  tell.  They  were  a 
brawny  set  of  Irishmen,  who  had  fought  well  and  deserved  much 
of  their  country,  which  up  to  that  time  had  paid  them  nothing. 
As  our  destination  was  Missouri,  and  the  probabilities  were  that 
we  would  have  the  same  enemy  upon  our  hands,  some  pains  were 
taken  to  ascertain  the  character  and  numbers  of  the  rebels,  and 
the  particulars  of  the  late  battle  at  Lexington. 

Previous  to  September  a  small  force  of  the  1st  Illinois  Cavalry 
and  a  body  of  Home  Guards  had  been  posted  at  Lexington  to  pro 
tect  the  Union  people  of  that  place.  This  force  being  menaced  by 
superior  numbers,  Col.  Mulligan  was  dispatched  from  Jefferson 
City  with  his  regiment  as  a  reinforcement,  marching  a  distance  of 
150  miles  on  foot.  Entrenchments  were  thrown  up  around  the 
Masonic  college  building,  which  served  as  a  magazine  and  store 
house.  The  Union  forces  at  this  time  numbered  2500  men.  The 
next  day  the  enemy's  advance,  6,000  strong,  under  Gen.  Rains, 
made  their  appearance.  Col.  Mulligan,  finding  himself  threat 
ened  by  a  greatly  superior  force,  sent  urgently  for  reinforcements, 
while  the  command  speedily  set  to  work  with  pick  and  shovel 
to  strengthen  their  defences.  On  the  12th  of  September  the 
siege  began.  By  the  17th  the  enemy  were  in  force  and  had 
entirely  surrounded  Mulligan's  position  with  20,000  men.  The 
battle  continued  .night  and  day  with  both  cannon  and  musketry, 
but  every  charge  was  repulsed  with  heavy  loss  to  the  enemy.  At 
length  they  constructed  breast  works  of  hemp  bales,  from  behind 
which  they  kept  up  a  continuous  fire  while  rolling  them  towards 
the  federal  position.  Sorties  were  made  upon  these  works  and  the 
enemy  driven  away,  but  lacking  sufficient  support  to  hold  them 
the  advantages  gained  were  temporary.  During  one  of  these 


58  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

charges  Col.  Mulligan  was  wounded  and  Col.  White,  of  the  1st 
Illinois  Cavalry,  killed.  Upon  the  death  of  Col.  White  a  panic 
seized  the  Home  Guards,  who,  without  orders,  raised  .a  flag  of 
truce,  which  Col.  Mulligan  caused  to  be  torn  down,  and  the  com 
bat  continued.  At  length  the  ammunition  having  given  out,  and 
the  men  being  completely  exhausted,  the  Home  Guards  again 
raised  a  white  flag,  which  this  time  was  not  torn  down.  Terms 
of  surrender  were  agreed  upon,  the  men  were  paroled  and  per 
mitted  to  proceed  to  Quincy.  Everything  except  clothing  and 
officers'  side  arms  were  given  up.  Col.  Mulligan  wept  when  he 
found  he  must  abandon  a  contest  which  he  had  gallantly  main 
tained  for  eight  days.  Gen.  Price  complimented  the  command 
by  saying  that  "these  Irishmen  were  the  hardest  set  to  capture 
he  had  ever  seen,"  and  certainly  their  looks  in  this  respect  did 
not  belie  them.  Many  of  these  men  were  ready  to  violate 
their  parol,  and  proceeded  to  St.  Louis  with  us,  persisting  in 
their  determination  to  join  our  command  and  fight  the  "rebs" 
on  sight. 

The  next  morning  all  the  men  and  equipage  were  transferred 
to  the  Warsaw,  and  as  she  steamed  out  into  the  river,  turned  her 
prow  from  the  city  and  went  cutting  the  spray  southward,  a  thous 
and  cheers  were  interchanged  between  boat  and  shore.  The 
shrill  notes  of  the  band  and  loud  beating  of  drums  echoed  from 
the  woody  banks — and  from  each  negro  cabin  a  shout  went  up 
and  a  fluttering  handkerchief  or  apron  waved  us  a  kind  God 
speed.  But  two  nights'  and  a  day's  absence  from  home  had 
afforded  ample  time  for  a  little  of  the  enthusiasm  to  cool,  and 
when  the  men  began  to  realize  that  they  were  dissevered  from  old 
familiar  land  marks,  it  might  be  for  months — possibly,  alas,  for 
ever!  many  faces  were  measurably  lengthened,  contrasting 
strangely  with  the  animation  of  the  day  before.  At  night, the 


EN    ROUTE    TO    ROLLA.  59 

twinkling  stars  were  suggestive  of  sad  thoughts ;  even  the  notes 
from  the  band  became  mournful  as  a  funeral  dirge,  and  its  strains 
seemed  to  echo  only  tearful  and  melancholy  farewells.  Some 
eyes  were  observed  terribly  red — resulting  from  the  wind,  of 
course. 

The  trip  was  made  with  scarcely  a  stop,  except  when  stranded 
on  a  sand  bar,  where  for  twenty  minutes  the  men  were  kept  on  a 
double  quick  from  bow  to  stern  until  the  craft  worked  its  way 
over  and  was  again  cleaving  the  waves.  No  incident  worthy  of 
record  occurred  to  those  on  board,  but  everybody  on  shore,  as  we 
rapidly  steamed  by,  came  out  and  gazed  at  the  great  steamer 
plowing  through  the  water,  crowded  with  1,200  soldiers,  who 
swarmed  from  texas  to  boiler  deck.  The  men  were  generally  in 
good  spirits,  and  but  few  complained  of  illness  until  it  became 
known  that  the  sick  were  to  occupy  the  cabin,  when  an  epidemic 
for  state  rooms  suddenly  broke  out,  and  Surgeon  Young  was 
much  surprised  at  the  numbers  responding  at  sick  call,  all  requir 
ing  immediate  attention  and  removal  to  the  cabin. 

Daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  found  us  safely  moored 
at  a  landing  in  front  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  Col.  Greusel 
immediately  proceeded  to  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Fremont, 
reported  the  arrival  of  the  Regiment,  and  asked  for  arms.  His 
requisition  was  at  once  granted,  and  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.  the  War 
saw  dropped  down  to  the  United  States  Arsenal.  Arrived 
within  its  stone  walls,  arms  and  accoutrements  were  quickly  dis 
tributed.  Companies  A  and  B  were  fortunate  in  securing  Minnie 
and  Enfield  rifles,  while  Springfield  muskets  of  an  old  pattern, 
remodeled,  were  dealt  out  to  the  balance  of  the  Regiment.  The 
Colonel  was  indignant,  the  men  were  disappointed,  but  no  amount 
of  expostulation  could  secure  different  arms,  from  the  simple  fact 
that  they  were  not  to  be  had. 


60  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Lieut.  Clark,  who  by  unanimous  consent  had  been  appointed 
regimental  wag,  was  heard  discoursing  thus:  "Heaven  forgive 
"us  all  our  sins  if  we  are  to  be  sent  among  these  rampageous, 
"  half  horse,  half  alligator,  border  ruffians  with  these  old  muskets 
uand  triangular  bayonets.  If  we  are  not  kicked  over  the  borders 
"at  the  first  discharge  it  will  be  through  the  special  interposi 
tion  of  a  kind  Providence.  Or  it  will  be  through  the  same 
"  merciful  influence  if  we  are  not  all  dead  in  three  weeks  from 
"  lugging  so  much  rusty  iron  among  the  black  jacks  and  rocky 
"fastnesses  of  Missouri.  We  shall  be  equally  in  danger  from 
"the  muzzles  of  squirrel  rifles  and  the  breeches  of  our  own  mus- 
"kets;  and  caught  thus  like  a  rat  in  a  trap  between  muzzle  and 
"breech,  what  possible  earthly  chance  can  there  be  for  us?" 

When  the  "Wayne  Rifles"  were  humorously  requested  to 
walk  up  and  take  their  muskets,  with  a  look  of  injured  innocence 
they  peremptorily  refused,  and  left  the  arsenal  grounds  in  a  huff 
and  without  a  single  gun.  Re-embarked  upon  the  Warsaw  we 
steamed  back  to  the  city  and  passed  another  night  upon  the  boat. 
A  train  of  freight  cars  were  shoved  down  to  the  levee  to  which 
the  regimental  stores  were  transferred,  and  at  about  5  P.  M.  the 
Regiment  was  marched  through  the  city  with  rattling  drums  and 
colors  flying,  to  the  depot  of  the  Missouri  Pacific  Railroad, 
where  we  embarked  for  Rolla,  then  the  terminus  of  the  South 
western  Branch.  There  being  no  equipments  nor  sufficient  trans 
portation  for  the  cavalry,  they  were  sent  to  Benton  Barracks,  a 
beautiful  location  north-west  of  the  city  limits,  where  at  that  time 
10,000  men  were  under  the  military  instruction  of  Gen.  Curtis, 
who  was  in  command. 

After  eight  of  the  infantry  companies  had  taken  their  places 
in  the  cars,  word  came  from  the  railroad  officials  that,  for  lack  of 
transportation,  two  of  the  companies  would  be  obliged  to  remain 


COL.    JOSLYN  AND    THE    kAILROAD   OFFICIALS.  61 

in  St.  Louis  until  the  next  day.  Preparations  were  being  mad6 
to  proceed  in  accordance  with  this  arrangement,  when  Col.  Jos- 
lyn,  having  ascertained  that  there  were  cars  enough  upon  the 
tracks,  concluded  that  the  two  cavalry  companies  were  enough  to 
leave  at  that  time,  and  proceeding  to  the  engine,  pulled  the  pin 
connecting  it  with  the  train,  and  with  revolver  in  hand  declared 
the  train  should  not  leave  St.  Louis  until  cars  sufficient  for  the 
transportation  of  the  infantry  were  furnished.  The  altercation 
became  rather  boisterous,  and  one  of  the  railroad  men  threatened 
to  thrash  him.  The  Colonel  doubted  his  ability  to  make  the 
threat  good,  and  reiterated  the  demand  for  more  cars,  which,  after 
some  delay,  were  forthcoming — the  plucky  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the 
Thirty-sixth  coming  off  victorious  in  the  first  campaign  in 
Missouri. 

At  Franklin  we  were  switched  on  the  South-west  Branch,  over 
which  we  ran  at  little  more  than  cart  horse  speed,  affording 
abundant  opportunity  to  speculate  upon  the  dangers  and  trials  of 
the  future  and  wonder  what  fate  had  in  reserve  for  us.  The 
South-west  Branch  cannot  easily  be  forgotten  by  those  who  in 
war  times  had  the  excruciating  pleasure  of  riding  over  it.  The 
men  were  penned  in  box  cars  like  drovers'  stock  on  its  way  to  the 
slaughter  pen.  Every  foot  of  space  was  occupied,  and 
there  was  not  a  square  inch  of  muscle  that  was  not  as  tender  as 
an  ulcerated  tooth  at  the  termination  of  that  ride.  Passing 
through  a  rough,  almost  mountainous  region,  with  its  frequent 
intervals  of  steep  grades,  to  a  nervous  man  the  speed  was  pain 
fully  slow;  but  when  the  heights  were  gained,  and  the  down 
grades  reached,  a  rate  of  speed  was  at  times  attained  calculated 
to  lead  to  the  suspicion  that  at  that  rate  and  over  such  a  track 
we  would  soon  be  landed  in  a  country  of  sultry  climate,  where 
secession  had  its  birthplace  and  where,  we  hoped,  it  was  destined 


62  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

soon  to  have  its  burial.  Then  we  would  go  up,  up,  winding 
around  mountain  gorges  until  one  would  have  to  watch  the  trees 
closely  to  determine  if  we  moved  at  all. 

The  hills  were  usually  covered  with  low,  scrubby  black  jack ; 
the  soil  for  the  most  part  poor  and  thin,  and  scarcely  worth  the 
blood  already  shed  in  its  defense.  With  an  occasional  clearing, 
comprising  a  few  acres  of  sickly  weeds,  a  log  cabin  with  mud 
chimneys  entirely  outside,  with  now  and  then  a  dilapidated  "  but 
ternut  ;"  a  smoke  begrimmed,  dejected  woman  and  a  swarm  of  half- 
clothed  urchins,  with  unkempt,  yellow  heads  protruding  through 
the  chinks,  watching,  with  a  vacant  stare,  the  passing  train,  served 
to  fill  up  the  details  of  this  picture  of  the  region  passed  through. 
The  bulk  of  native  Missourians  we  saw  were  long,  gaunt  men 
and  women,  put  together  well  enough,  perhaps,  originally,  but  now 
quite  shaken  to  pieces  with  fever  and  ague,  or  trembling  with 
terror  and  apprehension,  in  view  of  the  speedy  occupation  of  the 
country  by  federal  troops  and  retribution  which  might  at  any 
time  overtake  them  for  participation  in  rebellion.  As  a  rule,  the 
houses  of  the  country  were  small,  dirty  and  dilapidated; 
each  establishment  worthy  of  its  proprietor.  Of  thrift,  comfort, 
and  good  farming,  we  saw  none ;  the  people  barely  existed — did 
not  live.  One  meets  many  just  such  dwellings  and  just  such 
people  over  the  South.  Men  who  lie  around  loose  rather  than 
stand  erect  on  God's  green  earth;  men  who  seem  to  have  no  her 
itage  of  ideas  or  manly  aspirations,  but  manage  in  a  very  preca 
rious  way  to  keep  body  and  soul  together.  Labor  is  degrading, 
so  of  course,  they  are  idle  ;  a  slave  or  two  becoming  the  "  hewers 
of  wood,  the  drawers  of  water,"  the  scape  goat  of  their  master's 
idleness,  and  the  occasional  victims  of  their  vindictive  wrath. 
Men  fresh  from  the  busy  scenes  of  the  enterprising  North  had 
hard  work  to  suppress  a  feeling  of  contempt  for  these,  the  worst 


ARRIVAL    AT    ROLLA.  68 

victims  of  slavery,  stigmatized  by  the  haughty  slaveholders  and  by 
plantation  negroes  as  "poor  white  trash."  The  beautiful  South 
lies  sterile  and  her  people  semi-barbarous  at  the  feet  of  her  evil 
genius,  Slavery,  but  will  grow  young,  powerful  and  strong,  and 
occupy  a  proud  position  by  the  side  of  the  sister  States  of  the 
North  only  after  this  race  of  do  nothings  is  gone,  when  free  labor 
comes  to  touch  with  new  magic  the  springs  of  intelligence,  enter 
prise  and  industry. 

Finally,  after  surviving  the  perils  of  "riding  on  a  rail,"  and 
after  being  jolted  and  pounded  in  the  closely  packed  box  cars 
until  every  joint  from  toe  to  crown  was  as  "stiff  as  a  poker,"  we 
reached  Holla  shortly  after  noon  of  September  29th.  We  pro 
ceeded  to  the  recently  vacated  camp  of  the  13th  111.,  and  pitch 
ing  our  tents,  were  at  home  again.  It  required  but  a  short  time 
to  understand  that  the  pic-nic  days  of  Camp  Hammond  were 
over,  that  playing  soldier  was  played  out.  and  that  now  we  were 
to  come  dowrn  to  genuine  hard  work. 


CHAPTER    V. 

ROLL A. 

• 

jOLLA,  the  county  seat  of  Phelps  County,  Missouri, 
at  that  time  the  terminus  of  the  railroad,  was  an 
insignificant  gathering  of  tumble  down  shanties, 
built  of  logs  and  boards,  scattered  here  and  there 
in  the  brush  as  though  they  happened  there  by 
chance,  and  might  have  been  very  appropriately  classed  with  those 
institutions  so  common  in  the  South-west,  known  as  "one  horse 
towns."  Every  other  shanty  was  a  whisky  shop,  from  whence 
proceeded  every  form  of  loathsome  disease  and  death  which  pre 
vailed  to  an  alarming  extent  among  some  of  the  regiments  sta 
tioned  there.  The  Court  House,  a  large,  brick  structure,  was 
used  as  a  hospital.  Of  its  two  hundred  sick  and  suffering  inmates, 
three-quarters  were  Missourians,  who  were  not  considered  in 
their  normal  condition  unless  saturated  with  whisky.  One  might 
pick  up  any  of  those  lank,  three-story-and-an-attic  specimens  of 
the  genus  Missouri,  wring  him  out,  and  whisky  would  ooze  from 
every  pore.  It  was  apparent  that  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  their 
example  was  contagious  among  the  northern  regiments, 
and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  in  persuading  many  to  pat 
ronize  the  hospitals  and  graveyard,  as  well  as  those  dead  falls 


OUR   FIRST   EXPEDITION.  65 

labelled  saloons.  This  was  the  main  cause  of  so  great  a  per 
centage  of  sickness  and  mortality  among  those  who  were  sup 
posed  to  be  acclimated  to  the  country,  and  to  modes  of  life  which 
on  the  distant  frontier  much  resemble  that  of  a  soldier  in  camp. 

On  Col.  Greusel  devolved  the  command  of  the  Post.  The  first 
measure  inaugurated  by  him,  and  the  first  expedition  in  which  the 
36th  participated,  was  a  demonstration  in  force  against  the  whisky 
dens.  The  Colonel  commanded  the  expedition  in  person,  and 
with  a  detachment  from  the  36th,  headed  the  charge,  seized  and 
emptied  all  the  liquors  they  could  find.  Very  little  of  the  extract 
of  corn  remained  in  Rolla  at  the  close  of  that  campaign. 

Previous  to  the  occupation  of  the  town  and  the  establishment 
of  a  military  post  at  Rolla,  trees  and  brushwood  covered  the 
slopes  and  cumbered  the  streets,  or  more  properly,  bridle  paths. 
Situated  in  the  midst  of  a  scantily  settled  country — a  silent, 
sleepy  region,  but  little  troubled  with  Yankee. enterprise  or  mod 
ern  agricultural  improvements,  and  as  a  business  center  scarcely 
producing  a  ripple  upon  the  dull  monotony  of  the  region — there 
were  no  inducements  for  building.  But  in  time  the  groves  were 
cut  down,  the  land  cleared  and  leveled  for  parade  grounds,  and 
the  hills  denuded  of  their  foliage  for  purposes  of  fuel.  War, 
with  its  wonder-working  power,  wrought  a  great  change  in  the 
appearance  of  this  sleepy  town.  White-walled,  canvass  villages 
sprang  up  and  crowned  the  hill  sides ;  sentries  paced  up  and 
down  its  once  quiet  walks ;  and  army  wagons,  soldiers,  mounted 
officers,  and  orderlies  hurrying  from  camp  to  camp  over  rough, 
forest  ways,  gave  it  an  air  of  business,  activity  and  bustle,  quite 
in  contrast  with  the  primitive  days  of  the  town.  The  population 
was  largely  made  up  of  apple  women,  mustang  ponies,  fugitives 
from  the  outskirts  of  civilization,  mules,  contraband  negroes, 
with  now  and  then  a  secessionist  not  smart  enough  to  run  away, 


66  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

and  too  worthless  to  be  hung.  Such  was  Rolla  as  we  found  it: 
a  conglomeration  of  military  camps,  of  small  traders,  attracted 
by  the  hopes  of  gain  from  unsuspecting  soldiers,  and  a  "right 
smart  sprinkle"  of  native  Missourians,  all  of  which  constituted 
the  peculiar  make  up  of  the  place. 

In  a  few  days  the  13th  Illinois  and  4th  Iowa  Regiments 
returned  from  a  brief  and  fruitless  expedition  and  encamped  in 
close  proximity  to  the  36th,  and  as  the  former  had  been  recruited 
in  the  same  region  of  country  with  ours,  a  close  intimacy  and 
generous  rivalry  sprang  up  between  them. 

In  the  meantime  drilling  proceeded  almost  incessantly,  lasting 
some  days  from  six  to  nine  hours,  and  such  rapid  progress  was 
made  in  our  military  education  as  to  attract  the  attention  of 
officers  of  other  commands.  Col.  Wyman  was  a  frequent  visitor 
and  at  times  conducted  the  Dress  Parades,  and  the  13th,  the 
hitherto  crack  regiment  of  the  State,  betrayed  some  anxiety 
about  retaining  their  well  merited  and  so  far  uncontested  laurels. 
The  severity  of  the  day's  drill  and  other  duties  required  of  the 
men  had  a  tendency  to  send  them  early  to  bed,  when  quiet  reigned 
over  camp  until  the  little  drum  major  would  arouse  them  to 
activity  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

Col.  Greusel  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  and  looked  sharply 
after  the  peccadillos  of  the  men.  Realizing  from  former  experi 
ence  that  it  was  not  the  bullet  or  shell  which  most  menaced  the 
lives  of  soldiers,  but  that  habits  of  idleness,  license  and  dissipa 
tion  engendered  diseases  infinitely  more  fatal  than  Dahlgren  or 
Columbiad ;  his  orders  were  stringent  in  regard  to  drunkenness, 
frequenting  saloons  and  disreputable  houses,  and  also  very  definite 
in  relation  to  plundering  from  citizens.  All  convicted  of  diso 
beying  orders  were  made  examples  of,  and  dealt  with  severely. 
As  a  result,  the  general  good  conduct  and  exemplary  behavior  of 


THE    MISSOURI    PIE-VENDERS.  67 

the  men  of  the  36th  was  commented  on,  and  led  some  to  suppose 
they  were  all  members  in  good  standing  of  some  orthodox  church, 
while  their  deportment  won  for  them  the  credit  of  being  gentle 
men  as  well  as  soldiers.  One  night  a  corporal  while  concealed 
in  the  bushes  and  darkness  near  the  post  of  a  sentinel,  overheard 
the  countersign  as  it  was  given  to  a  relief,  and  persuading  some 
of  his  comrades  to  accompany  him,  they  left  camp  and  raided 
heavily  onthe  gardens  and  hen  roosts  of  citizens,  and  brought 
their  ill  gotten  plunder  to  their  quarters.  The  affair  reached 
the  ears  of  Col.  Greusel.  Their  arrest  and  speedy  court-martial 
followed,  resulting  in  the  decrease  of  the  number  of  corporals  in 
that  Company,  and  a  corresponding  accession  to  the  numbers  of 
high  privates,  while  the  whole  party  were  sentenced  to  ten  days 
confinement  within  the  vermin-haunted  walls  of  the  jail. 

An  institution  somewhat  aboriginal,  and  yet  peculiarly  Missou- 
rian,  was  the  pie  and  cake  venders,  generally  skinny  old  women, 
who  nocked  in  from  the  country  with  immense  burdens  of  ''leather 
apron ' '  pies  and  black  lumps  of  ginger  bread  or  molasses  cake — 
a  mixture  of  flour,  bacon  grease  and  sorghum  molasses — the  color 
of  which  suggested  tar  instead  of  syrup.  The  venders  of 
these  villainous  articles  would  hang  about  the  confines  of  camp, 
hawking  their  wares  with  voices  as  unmusical  and  unfeminine  as 
horse  fiddles.  The  men  of  the  36th  were  liberal  patrons  of  these 
institutions,  and  at  all  times  groups  of  soldiers  might  be  found 
gathered  around  these  native  hucksters,  voraciously  devouring 
their  conglomerate  mixtures.  It  was  absolutely  marvelous  to 
see  the  quantities  which  an  average  sized  thirty-sixer  could  hold. 
A  ft.er  gorging  themselves  with  pies,  hunks  of  black  gingerbread — 
enough,  one  would  think,  to  founder  a  horse — the  information 
would  be  vouchsafed  that  they  had  eaten  just  enough  to  pro 
voke  an  appetite,  and  then  another  half  dozen  pies  or  cards  of 


68  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

cake  were  purchased  to  be  sandwiched  between  a  course  of  baked 
beans  and  hard  tack.  It  was  a  continued  source  of  wonder  how 
men  could  endure  such  a  surfeit  of  leather  and  molasses,  beans 
and  bacon  with  which  they  tormented  their  digestive  organs,  and 
survive ;  and  it  could  only  be  accounted  for  on  the  theory  that 
with  the  change  from  civil  to  military  life,  their  stomachs,  like 
their  costumes,  had  undergone  a  wonderful  transformation  ;  per 
haps  were  lined  with  gutta  purcha  and  riveted  to  a  diaphragm  of 
boiler  iron.  Yet  they  lived ;  and  like  Jeshurun  of  old,  waxed 
fat,  and  would  tumble  out  of  their  quarters  on  a  keen,  frosty 
morning  as  nimble  as  crickets,  ready  for  duty  at  the  drop  of  the 
hat.  The  demand  for  this  indigestible  native  pastry  was  occa 
sioned  by  the  poor  quality  of  the  rations  at  this  time  served  to 
the  troops.  Some  of  the  early  issues  of  hard  bread  were  old  and 
worm  eaten.  When  soaked  in  coffee,  more  or  less  dead  worms 
were  found  among  the  dregs.  The  members  of  the  Band  at  one 
time  had  issued  to  them  a  barrel  of  it,  infinitely  worse  than  any 
they  had  hitherto  received.  They  determined  to  bury  it,  and  the 
whole  musical  corps  of  the  regiment  marched  in  solemn  proces 
sion  to  a  spot  selected  outside  of  camp,  and  the  rites  of  sepulture 
were  gone  through  with.  Dutch  Charley,  the  bass  drummer, 
suggested  that  an  epitaph  be  written  upon  the  headboard,  and  on 
being  asked  what  it  should  be,  replied  : 

Here  lies  von  mans,  his  name's  hard  pred, 
He  shmels  she  pad  dot  he  ish  deat. 
Sthranger  stheps  lightly  o'er  dish  sot, 
Or  de  vorms  vill  eat  you  ups,  mein  Got  ! 

As  Rolla  at  this  time  was  the  extreme  outpost  occupied  by 
federal  troops,  it  was  the  point  to  which  refugees  and  fugitives, 
fleeing  from  the  relentless  conscription  of  the  rebels,  came  for 
protection  and  aid.  The  25th  Missouri,  commanded  by  Col. 
Phelps,  was  largely  composed  of  this  element.  They  came  singly 


UNION    REFUGEES    FLEEING    TO    CAMP.  69 

or  in  squads  of  from  two  to  fifty  ;  on  foot,  on  horseback  and  in 
any  and  all  ways  to  escape  the  fury  and  hate  of  their  enemies. 
Weary  and  footsore  they  presented  themselves  to  the  pickets  and 
from  thence  wended  their  toilsome  way  to  the  camps.  One  arrival 
of  seventy-five  mountaineers  from  the  chert  hills  of  Douglas 
County,  on  the  borders  of  Arkansas,  for  a  while  was  the  center 
of  attraction.  To  the  "boys  from  America,"  a  queerer  conglom 
eration  of  human  oddities  and  natural  curiosities  were  scarcely 
ever  raked  together.  No  mortal  man  could  picture  a  more  strange, 
ragged  and  dirty  assemblage  in  the  form  of  human  beings.  Most 
of  them  were  tall,  sallow,  cadavarous  and  leathery  fellows,  as 
uncouth  as  was  ever  represented  in  David  Crockett's  comic 
almanac.  Others  were  short  and  brawny,  and  stalked  through 
the  crowd  with  a  reckless,  independent  swagger.  All  of  them 
were  squalid,  travel-worn  and  tattered  to  the  last  degree.  Talk 
of  scarecrows  !  Why,  the  yards  of  dirty  linen  hanging  out  like 
fluttering  banners  from  the  rear,  and  the  patches  and  shreds  of 
Old  coats  and  garments  dangling  from  their  limbs,  would  be  suffi 
cient  to  scare  the  crows  and  all  other  "varmints"  in  terror  from 
the  country.  Some  were  barefooted,  others  had  an  apology  for 
shoes  that  would  excite  the  profoundest  contempt  from  the  seediest 
street  beggar  that  ever  haunted  the  gutter  for  bones.  And  as  for 
hats,  words  could  scarcely  do  the  subject  justice.  Hunt  up  all 
the  old  hats  that  ever  plugged  the  windows  of  poverty's  dirtiest 
kennels ;  select  a  score  or  more  of  the  poorest  and  worst,  and  an 
approximate  idea  might  be  formed  of  the  head-gear  of  these 
native  mountaineers. 

As  Union  men  they  had  been  persecuted,  plundered,  driven 
from  their  homes,  and  hunted  like  wild  animals  by  hordes  of 
secession  "blood  hounds"  from  Arkansas  arid  the  Southern  bor 
der.  Many  were  caught  and  hung ;  others  had  their  ears  cut  off, 


70  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and  some  were  shot  down  like  dogs.  For  mutual  protection  they 
finally  banded  together,  determined  to  die,  rather  than  submit  to 
further  exactions  and  barbarities.  A  party  of  these  men  on  the 
3d  of  October  encountered  two  hundred  secessionists  on  Bryant's 
Fork,  about  two  and  a-half  miles  south  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  county 
seat  of  Douglas  County  ;  and,  after  a  lively  fight  of  fifteen  min 
utes,  the  enemy  fled,  leaving  fifteen  dead  and  ten  wounded  upon 
the  field.  But  one  of  the  Union  men  was  wounded,  and  he  but 
slightly.  Two  days  after,  another  party  of  secessionists  were  met 
and  put  to  flight,  leaving  one  killed  and  three  wounded,  while  the 
others  fled  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  Arkansas.  Rumors  of  the 
return  of  their  enemies  in  larger  force,  together  with  want  of  pro 
visions  and  ammunition,  determined  them  to  come  to  Rolla.  On 
the  way  they  had  encountered  a  detachment  from  McBride's 
rebel  regiment,  and  captured  them  all,  including  a  Lieutenant  and 
a  dozen  privates,  who  were  brought  to  camp  and  sent  from  thence 
to  St.  Louis  for  confinement  in  the  Gratiot  prison.  One  of  the 
refugees,  Samuel  Collins,  was  seventy-five  years  old.  A  son 
had  been  hung  by  the  southern  miscreants,  and  he  had  been 
forced  to  live  for  months  in  the  woods.  He  had  fought  with 
Jackson  at  New  Orleans,  and  was  ready  again  to  face  the  storm 
of  shot  and  shell  in  defence  of  the  same  old  flag.  He  was  enrolled 
with  the  others,  and  as  a  member  of  Phelps'  Regiment,  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

Near  to  and  adjoining  the  camp  of  the  36th  was  a  battalion  of 
Cavalry,  called  "Kansas  Rangers,"  under  the  command  of  Major 
Wood.  Nearly  the  whole  of  his  command  were  recruited  in 
Missouri  and  from  citizens  of  the  State,  arid  why  they  were  called 
"  Kansas  Rangers ' '  was  not  satisfactorily  explainer!.  Detachments 
from  this  battalion  were  constantly  scouring  the  country  ;  hunting 
out  secessionists  ;  collecting  information  of  their  movements  ;  now 


EXPLOITS    OF    THE    RANGERS.  71 

and  then  stinging  them  like  wasps  and  stirring  them  up  right 
lively.  Shortly  after  our  arrival,  a  squad  of  twenty-five  pro 
ceeded  thirty  miles  to  the  south-west  of  Rolla,  and  quartered 
themselves  in  a  house  for  the  night.  A  negro  quietly  informed 
them  of  the  near  approach  of  a  company  of  Confederates,  under 
one  Freeman,  who,  aware  of  their  movements  and  situation,  with 
superior  numbers  was  preparing  to  surprise  and  capture  them. 
They  at  once  mounted  their  horses  and  hurried  away  in  such  haste 
as  to  leave  two  of  their  number  asleep,  and  their  absence  was  not 
noticed  for  some  time.  Soon  after  the  house  was  surrounded  and 
a  volley  poured  in  at  the  windows.  One  of  the  sleeping  troopers 
was  severely  wounded  and  captured  ;  but  the  other,  though  fired 
upon  and  having  an  arm  broken  and  a  finger  shot  away,  reached 
his  horse  and  made  his  escape.  At  another  time  a  detachment 
from  the  same  battalion  scoured  the  valley  of  the  Big  Piney, 
capturing  several  noted  secessionists  who  were  at  home  on  furlough. 

Hearing  that  one  Pitcock,  a  leader  among  them,  was  at  home, 
Sergeant  Adams  with  four  men  was  sent  across  the  country  to 
arrest  him.  As  they  approached  the  house  in  the  night  they  were 
greeted  wTith  a  fusilade  from  eighteen  shot  guns,  that  were  handled 
by  an  equal  number  of  brawny  ''butternuts."  So  warm  a  recep 
tion  was  not  expected.  The  Rangers,  however,  pitched  in,  kicked 
the  door  from  its  hinges,  and  revolvers  in  hand,  charged  among 
their  dismayed  antagonists,  arid  soon  that  mountain  cabin  looked 
more  like  a  slaughter  pen  than  the  abode  of  human  beings.  A 
few  escaped,  but  nine  were  killed  outright  and  four  brought  away 
as  prisoners.  It  was  said  that  some  were  shot  after  their  surren 
der.  Sergeant  Adams  was  quite  severely  wounded  in  the  breast, 
being  the  only  injured  man  of  the  Rangers.  The  battalion,  com 
posed  almost  entirely  of  Missourians — men  without  a  particle  of 
cowardice  or  the  more  redeeming  virtue  of  mercy,  each  having 


72  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

an  old  grudge  or  private  wrong  to  avenge  and  neglecting  no 
opportunity  for  the  speedy  settlement  of  these  personal  griev 
ances, — was  the  terror  of  the  country. 

Such  occurrences  had  but  slight  influence  upon  the  general 
result  of  the  contest,  and  were  of  no  particular  moment  to  the 
36th.  Yet  the  recital  of  these  adventures  served  to  enliven  the 
dull  routine  of  camp  duty,  and  furnished  food  for  conversation 
and  material  to  write  about  in  the  hundreds  of  letters  winging 
their  way  back  to  the  firesides  left  behind. 

The  two  Cavalry  Companies  remained  much  longer  at  Benton 
Barracks  than  was  anticipated,  on  account  of  there  being  no  arms 
for  them  at  St.  Louis.  Other  cavalry  detachments  were  in  pre 
cisely  the  same  situation,  some  of  which  had  been  waiting  months 
for  their  equipments.  Little  did  the  people  realize  at  the  com 
mencement  of  the  war  the  utter  poverty  of  the  nation  in  the 
essentials  for  carrying  it  on.  The  administration  shrunk  from 
proclaiming  its  needs,  and  struggled  on,  endeavoring  to  supply 
deficiencies  in  the  best  manner  possible,  and  because  of  its  inabil 
ity  to  arm  a  half  million  men  at  once,  without  a  musket  in  the 
depleted  northern  arsenals,  and  without  money  in  the  National 
Treasury,  it  Avas  abused  without  stint.  But  while  thus  waiting, 
the  cavalry  was  not  idle.  The  horses  as  well  as  men  were  famil 
iarized  with  the  movements  so  necessary  to  be  learned. 

At  length  marching  orders  were  received,  and  on  their  arrival 
at  Rolla  the  troopers  were  greeted  by  the  infantry  with  a  hearty 
welcome.  They  were  speedily  armed  with  sabres,  breech-loading 
carbines  and  revolvers.  The  battalion,  with  their  clean  uniforms 
and  new  armament,  made  a  gallant  appearance,  and  for  a  time 
the  "  86th  Riding  Company  "  created  a  sensation  among  the 
natives. 

The  first  death  and  burial  after  the  Regiment  arrived  at  Rolla 
occurred  October  7th,  being  that  of  a  member  of  Company  B. 


DEATH    OF   LIEUT.    CIIAPPEL.  73 

Cavalry,  named  Logan.  The  whole  Regiment,  except  those  on 
duty,  formed  in  line  and  followed  the  body  to  the  grave,  where  it 
was  buried  with  military  honors. 

On  the  16th,  Lieut.  Chappel,  of  Company  A.,  died,  being  the 
second  death  which  occurred  at  Rolla.  His  body  was  placed  in  a 
coffin,  draped  with  the  National  flag,  and  forwarded  to  friends  at 
Elgin,  for  burial.  The  Regiment  was  drawn  up  in  two  lines,  in 
open  order,  extending  from  camp  to  the  railroad  station,  between 
which  Company  A.  with  reversed  arms  followed  the  coffin,  which 
was  preceded  by  the  band,  playing  a  funeral  dirge,  the  solemn 
cadences  of  which  added  a  mournful  solemnity  to  the  sadness  of 
the  hour.  Captain  Baldwin  took  charge  of  the  body  and  pro 
ceeded  with  it  to  Elgin. 

On  the  10th  of  October  all  the  troops,  except  the  36th,  the  4th 
Iowa  and  Phelps'  Missourians,  left  Rolla  and  marched  to  the 
south-west,  to  co-operate  with  General  Fremont  in  his  movement 
from  Sedalia  upon  Springfield.  Colonel  Dodge,  of  the  4th  Iowa, 
being  the  senior  officer,  was  placed  in  command  of  the  post,  and 
with  characteristic  vigor  set  about  placing  it  in  such  a  condi 
tion  for  defense  as  to  render  it  secure  against  assault  from  the 
enemy.  Work  was  resumed  on  Fort  Wyman,  which  had  been 
left  for  weeks  in  a  half-finished  condition.  This  defensive  work, 
situated  on  a  hill  three-fourths  of  a  mile  south  of  town,  over 
looked  and  commanded  the  surrounding  country.  It  had  been 
planned  and  commenced  under  the  direction  of  Captain  Totten, 
and  about  half  completed  by  the  13th  Illinois.  Engineers  to 
take  charge  of  the  work  were  detailed  from  the  36th,  for  there 
was  no  trade  or  profession,  but  had  representatives  in  its  ranks. 
Large  details  of  men  were  made  from  each  regiment  at  the  post ; 
picks  and  shovels  provided,  and  the  gravel  was  soon  flying  in  a 
way  which  insured  the  speedy  completion  of  the  fort  and  the 
erection  of  block  houses  at  opposite  angles. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

EXPEDITION   TO    HOUSTON. 

THE  meantime  a  wail  of  distress  came  up  from 
Texas,  Dent  and  other  counties  south  and  west  of 
Rolla.  Each  day  bands  of  fleeing  refugees  repeated 
their  stories  of  destitution  and  suffering  resulting 
from  the  depredations  of  guerrilla  bands  that 
patrolled  the  country,  enforcing  the  relentless  con 
scription  laws  of  the  Confederate  Congress,  and  plundering  the 
Union  people  of  their  sustenance,  often  adding  murder  to  the 
long  catalogue  of  other  crimes,  McBride,  Freeman  and  Haw 
thorn  were  filling  these  localities  with  terror,  and  sweeping  the 
country  as  with  the  besom  of  destruction.  Fields  were  laid 
waste,  and  swept  of  cattle,  hogs  and  horses,  and  the  smoke  of  burn 
ing  houses  marked  the  path  of  these  miscreants. 

An  expedition  to  Houston  was  resolved  upon  and  Colonel  Greu- 
sel  put  in  command.  It  was  made  up  of  detachments  from  the 
two  Cavalry  Companies  of  the  36th,  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Sherer,  of  Company  A  ;  Companies  B  and  E  of  the  Infantry, 
and  two  hundred  men  from  the  4th  Iowa  Infantry,  consisting 
altogether  of  about  five  hundred  men.  It  was  believed  that  at 
Houston  a  considerable  force  of  "Bushwhackers"  and  the  odd 


THE   FIRST   MARCH.  75 

ends  of  several  rebel  commands  were  collected,  from  whence  they 
radiated  and  ranged  over  the  surrounding  country  committing 
their  depredations  and  fiendish  barbarities. 

At  four  P.  M.  all  were  in  readiness  ;  the  men  fell  into  line,  each 
with  knapsack  containing  blankets,  extra  ammunition  and  three 
or  four  days'  marching  rations.     The   Companies  wheeled  into 
column  ;  the  drums  beat  an  exhilarating  air ;  the  rattle  of  sabres, 
the  clinking  of  horses'  shoes  over  the  stony  road,  and  the  meas 
ured  tread  of  the  infantry  as  it  filed  over  the  hills,  presented  a 
more  warlike  aspect  than  anything  the  36th  had  yet  been  accus 
tomed  to.     Cheer  on  cheer  rent  the  air.     The  men,  inexperienced 
as  they  were  in   campaign  life,  and  eager  for  a  change,   were 
wrought  up  to  a  high  pitch  of  enthusiasm.     The  troops  marched 
well,  and  twilight  was   descending,   wrapping  glade  and  moun 
tain  in  the  garb  of  night  'ere  they  had  wended  their  way   over 
the  hills  and  were  fairly  out   of  sight.     After  marching  eight 
miles,  one  of  the  teams  gave  out,  and  was  taken  back  to  Rolla, 
and   a   six   mule   government   team    sent  in  its  stead,  escorted 
by  eight  men  from  Company  C.     The  night  was  intensely   dark ; 
dense  clouds  shut  out  the  starlight  and  left  the  command  to  grope 
its  way  over  a  rough  unfrequented  road  that  led  through  a  coun 
try   more   rough   and   rugged   than  the  Illinoisians  had  before 
experienced.     Now  they  went  toiling  up  steep  hills  seemingly 
interminable ;  then  plunging  down  the  precipitous  slopes  of  others, 
into  some  deep  and  dark  ravine.     Rough  strata  of  rock  cropped 
out  at  every  step,  stumps  and  boulders  littered  the  road,   against 
which  the  men  came  in  rough  and  unexpected  contact,  lacerating 
their  limbs  and  bruising  their  feet.     Streams  were  reached  and 
forded,  the  troopers'   horses  plashing  through  the  swift  flowing 
water,  their  iron  shoes  grinding  its  pebbly  bed,  the  infantry  cau 
tiously  wading  through  and  then  marching  on  in  silence,  broken 


76  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

only  by  a  savage  expletive  as  some  one  tumbled  over  a  rock  or 
into  a  hole.  After  marching  twelve  miles,  mostly  in  the  darkness, 
they  bivouacked  near  the  banks  of  a  stream.  Pickets  were 
thrown  out,  the  horses  tied  to  the  black-jacks,  and  then  the  men 
sought  repose  on  the  cold  ground,  but  wrapped  in  their  blankets. 
At  daybreak  the  next  morning  the  men  prepared  their  coffee, 
cooked  a  scanty  breakfast,  and  then  the  column  was  again  in 
motion,  but  not  marching  with  that  precision  and  order  observed 
upon  the  parade  ground.  "  Rank  step  and  arms  at  will,"  was  the 
order,  and  each  man  took  the  gait  which  suited  him,  provided  he 
kept  closed  up  with  the  company,  while  his  musket  described 
every  possible  angle  but  the  right  one.  This  plodding  on  through 
a  wild,  rough  country  had  very  little  of  military  romance  about 
it.  On  the  contrary,  it  was  downright  hard  work,  especially  for 
most  of  the  men  detached  from  the  36th,  who  were  unaccustomed 
to  such  service. 

Straggling  was  not  allowed,  but  all  sorts  of  excuses  were 
resorted  to,  to  go  to  the  wayside  cabins  for  milk  and  "garden 
truck."  What  astonishing  spasms  of  hunger  or  thirst  attack 
soldiers  on  sight  of  an  attractive  farm  house,  and  what  sad  stories 
of  privation  they  have  to  tell  when  once  they  gain  the  ear  of  the 
proprietor  or  his  family.  A  pretty  close  observer  of  all  the 
phases  of  a  soldier's  life  has  stated  that  positively  no  soldier  under 
such  circumstances  was  ever  known  to  have  had  anything  to  eat 
for  the  two  previous  days,  though  his'  haversack  may  even  then 
be  crammed  to  corpulency  with  "hard  tack."  And  the  pleas 
these  mousing  stragglers  put  in  when  caught  with  plunder  are 
sublime  in  their  audacity. 

Major  English,  of  the  4th  Iowa,  observed  a  soldier  staggering 
along  with  a  great  swelling  under  his  blanket — which,  from  every 
indication,  he  judged  to  be  a  dead  pig — whom  he  hailed  with  : 
"  Hello,  my  man,  where  did  you  get  that  pig?" 


PECULIAR   FORAGING   PROPENSITIES.  77 

"  It  isn't  a  pig,  sir,  it's  tomatoes.  You  don't  know,  sir,  how 
"hard  it  is  to  tell  pigs  from  tomatoes  in  this  blasted  country." 

The  Major  re-adjusted  his  spectacles,  took  another  look,  but 
refrained  from  pressing  his  inquiries  further. 

At  each  halt  during  the  day  the  inevitable  tin  cup  was  in  req 
uisition,  boiling  coffee  at  impromptu  camp  fires.  Nothing  seems 
to  refresh  troops  when  on  a  march  so  much  as  a  cup  of  coffee. 

At  night  the  command  encamped  on  Crow  Creek,  within  five 
miles  of  Licking,  which  place  was  reached  the  next  day,  and 
occupied  by  the  infantry  for  four  days,  while  Col.  Greusel  with 
the  cavalry  scouted  the  neighboring  country,  capturing  some 
noted  secessionists  and  bringing  them  to  camp.  The  hamlet  was 
nearly  deserted,  as  the  former  residents,  who  were  Union  people, 
had  been  plundered  and  then  driven  from  their  homes,  and  only 
a  few  forlorn  "war  widders,"  faded  damsels  and  yellow  haired, 
dirty  faced  children  now  remained.  The  troops  found  quarters 
in  empty  houses,  and  during  the  time  the  place  was  occupied 
detachments  scoured  the  country  and  stripped  it  of  "secesh" 
horses,  mules,  cattle  and  wheat. 

Col.  Greusel  with  the  cavalry  proceeded  to  Houston,  chasing 
from  thence  a  squad  of  ghostly  "butternuts,"  with  whom  a  few 
shots  were  exchanged,  but  at  too  great  a  distance  to  be  effective. 
On  being  pressed  by  the  cavalry,  they  took  to  the  brush  and 
escaped.  A  secession  flag  was  floating  from  the  Court  House, 
which  was  hauled  down  and  the  stars  and  stripes  ran  up  in  its 
stead.  Notice  was  given  to  sympathizers  and  the  aiders  and 
abettors  of  treason  that  if  the  flag  was  hauled  down  or  insulted, 
the  troops  would  return  and  inflict  summary  vengeance  upon 
those  who  did  it.  Fourteen  prisoners  were  captured,  including 
an  Inspector  General,  Quarter-Master,  Sergeant  Major,  and  an 
Orderly  Sergeant,  who,  on  the  return  of  the  expedition,  were 


78  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

confined  within  the  precincts  of  Fort  Wyman,  and  with  others 
set  to  work  with  pick  and  shovel  upon  the  fortifications.  The 
prisoners  strenuously  objected  to  being  obliged  to  work,  and  as 
an  ordinary  rule  prisoners  of  war  are  exempt  from  such  service 
to  their  captors ;  but  when  we  take  into  consideration  that  these 
men  were  the  authors  of  much  of  the  distress  and  suffering 
endured  by  Union  families,  followed  in  many  cases  by  house 
burning  and  assassination,  humanity  towards  them  almost  ceased 
to  be  a  virtue.  The  graves  of  their  victims  send  forth  bloody 
witnesses,  and  the  tears  and  agony  of  widows  and  orphans  who 
owe  their  grief  to  these  miscreants  testify  against  them,  and  to 
labor  in  chains  all  their  days  would  be  an  insufficient  recompense 
for  the  fearful  consequences  to  the  country  of  their  accursed 
treason. 

On  the  6th,  Capt.  Wood  with  the  cavalry  started  for  Spring 
Valley,  thirty  miles  distant,  in  pursuit  of  Col.  Freeman,  against 
whom  the  expedition  was  principally  directed.  He  could  not  be 
drawn  into  a  battle,  and  by  his  perfect  knowledge  of  the  country 
eluded  all  efforts  for  his  capture,  and  only  straggling  shots  at 
long  range  were  exchanged.  The  property  taken  and  brought  to 
Rolla  was  valued  at  $15,000,  which  was  turned  over  to  the  Quar 
ter-Master  and  Commissary  Departments.  Among  the  trophies 
was  a  drum  made  from  a  hollow  log,  looking  much  like  a  north 
ern  bee  gum,  with  sheep  skins  stretched  over  either  end,  and 
when  beaten  sent  forth  a  lugubrious  murmur  unlike  anything  ever 
heard  before  in  connection  with  military  organization,  outside  the 
jungles  of  Ethiopia.  The  flag  taken  at  Houston  was  a  primitive 
affair,  displaying  artistic  skill  in  its  make  up  about  on  a  par  with 
the  drum,  and  covered  with  cabalistic  signs  and  hieroglyphics 
about  as  intelligible  as  Hebrew  or  Greek  to  a  backwoods  Indiana 
Hoosier.  This  campaign  had  its  advantages  in  accustoming  the 
men  to  long  marches  and  unceasing  vigilance. 


CHAPTER   VII. 


STILL  AT  HOLLA. 


[OLONEL  WYMAISPS  expedition  to  the  south-west 
showed  results  in  the  long  lines  of  prisoners  of 
war  which  were  sent  by  him  under  guard  to  Rolla. 
The  jail  and  fort  were  gradually  filled  with  them, 
and  guards  detailed  from  the  different  regiments  at 
the  post  were  required  to  prevent  their  escape. 
The  36th  contributed  its  share  in  the  entertainment  and  preserv 
ation  from  harm  of  these  highly  honored  guests. 

Though  the  36th  did  not  participate  in  this  campaign,  yet  a 
short  synopsis  of  the  incidents  connected  with  it  may  not  be  out 
of  place,  as  they  served  for  many  days  to  keep  the  men  on  the 
qui  vive,  and  awakened  nearly  as  intense  an  interest  as  if  they 
were  active  participants. 

The  first  day  out  from  Rolla  the  expedition  marched  twenty- 
four  miles  to  the  Big  Piney,  through  a  drizzling  rain  storm,  over 
mortar-mixed  roads  neither  safe  nor  agreeable.  On  the  12th,  the 
command  went  into  camp  within  four  miles  of  Wet  Glaze,  not 
far  from  Lebanon,  in  LaClede  County,  The  pickets  were  fired 
upon  during  the  night,  which  apprised  Col.  Wyman  of  the  near 
ness  of  the  enemy,  and  soon  after  reliable  information  was 


80  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

obtained  of  the  position  and  strength  of  a  considerable  force. 
Four  companies  of  cavalry  under  Major  Wright,  and  four  com 
panies  of  the  13th  Infantry,  set  out  at  daylight  to  make  the 
attack,  while  the  balance  of  the  command  were  to  follow  closely 
in  their  support. 

Col.  Turner,  the  Confederate  commander,  took  up  a  position 
at  Wet  Glaze,  on  the  side  of  a  hill  overlooking  and  commanding 
the  road  over  which  our  forces  were  expected  to  approach,  that 
led  up  through  a  ravine  and  along  the  sinuous  windings  of  a 
range  of  hills.  The  whole  country  was  diversified  with  chert 
ridges,  cut  by  deep  ravines  and  densely  covered  with  bushes  and 
scattering  black-jack,  in  every  way  favorable  to  the  mode  of 
"fire  and  run"  bush  fighting  adopted  by  the  enemy,  who,  sup 
posing  that  their  presence  was  wholly  unknown  to  Wyman,  had 
taken  their  position  among  the  bushes  and  trees,  partly  conceal 
ing  them,  and  awaited  our  approach.  Just  then  several  ambu 
lances,  with  some  of  the  convalescents  from  Springfield,  left  there 
after  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  approached,  and  were  com 
pelled  to  halt  before  entering  the  ravine,  and  in  this  position 
remained  more  than  an  hour,  awaiting  the  result  of  the  expected 
battle.  They  were  frequently  jeered  by  the  secessionists,  and 
told  that  they  would  soon  have  another  batch  of  wounded  feds  to 
carry  along  with  them  to  Holla.  Such  was  the  condition  ol 
affairs,  when  suddenly  two  companies  of  cavalry  under  Captains 
Switzler  and  Montgomery,  who  were  in  advance,  charged  over  the 
hill  and  swooped  down  upon  the  left  Hank  and  rear  of  the  aston 
ished  enemy,  arid  poured  a  destructive  fire  from  their  carbines 
into  the  now  wavering  ranks;  then  charging  with  their  sabres 
they  scattered  them  like  chaff  before  the  wind.  The  cavalry 
pursued,  and  each  singling  his  man,  overtook  and  sabred  him  to 
the  ground.  In  a  few  minutes  the  fighting  was  over ;  the  enemy 


SUCCESSFUL   CAVALRY   RAID.  81 

throwing  away  guns  and  everything  that  could  impede  their 
flight,  took  to  the  woods  and  ravines  in  a  perfect  rout.  They 
were  so  completely  surprised  and  terrified  that  but  few  shots  were 
fired  by  them,  and  only  one  of  Capt.  Montgomery's  men  was 
wounded.  It  was  a  dash — a  shout — a  gleam  of  death  from  our 
side,  and  a  wild  and  frightened  scamper  for  life  on  the  part  of 
the  enemy.  When  our  cavalry  and  the  ambulances  met,  three 
rousing  cheers  went  up  and  echoed  through  the  glades. 

The  force  engaged  on  our  part  was  the  cavalry  advance,  num 
bering  scarcely  one  hundred  men.  The  infantry  hearing  the 
firing,  double-quicked  to  the  spot,  panting  and  out  of  breath,  but 
were  only  in  time  to  assist  in  gathering  up  the  wrecks  that  strewed 
the  ground.  Sixty-three  of  the  enemy's  dead  were  found,  thir 
teen  wounded  were  scattered  over  the  hill  side,  and  forty  prison 
ers  captured. 

Many  were  the  incidents  of  personal  daring  related  to  the 
eager,  gaping  crowds  of  the  36th  which  thronged  around  the 
ambulances  and  prisoners'  escort  as  they  came  filing  into  town. 
One  negro  with  Capt.  Montgomery,  in  the  capacity  of  cook  and 
general  drudge,  fearlessly  rode  in  advance  of  the  command, 
blazing  away  at  the  first  butternut  in  sight,  and  the  first  of  the 
enemy  to  fall  was  shot  by  him.  The  prisoners  were  a  sorry  look 
ing  set  of  vagabonds,  and  in  their  dress  and  deportment  much 
resembled  the  Douglas  County  refugees. 

From  Wet  Glaze,  Wymari  marched  to  Linn  Creek  and  cap 
tured  thirty  other  prisoners,  who  were  likewise  brought  to  Holla 
for  safe  keeping  and  to  experience  the  hospitalities  of  the  36th. 
In  retaliation  for  the  plunder  of  McClurg's  store  at  Linn  Creek 
some  time  previous,  the  13th  was  allowed  to  confiscate  the  con 
tents  of  stores  and  shops  belonging  to  active  rebels  and  their 
sympathizers.  It  is  needless  to  add  that  the  work  was  thoroughly 
done,  and  a  second  visit  for  that  purpose  rendered  unnecessary. 


82  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

During  the  absence  of  the  expedition,  each  day,  and  nearly 
each  hour,  came  laden  with  reports  of  battles  lost  or  won ;  of  ene 
mies  thronging  around  in  countless  thousands,  together  with  hun 
dreds  of  other  wild  reports,  too  incredible  for  any  but  the  easily 
gulled  to  believe.  One  morning  Price  was  reported  within  five 
miles  of  the  Post  with  ten  thousand  men  at  his  heels,  fully  bent 
upon  its  capture  and  the  slaughter  of  its  defenders.  And  great 
was  the  astonishment  and  indignation  of  the  men  at  the  apparent 
apathy  and  indifference  of  the  officers,  who  made  no  call  to  arms 
and  no  preparation  for  defence.  During  the  day  this  report  was 
considerably  modified — the  numbers  of  the  enemy  reduced  to  five 
thousand  and  their  distance  twenty  miles  away.  When  stripped 
of  exaggeration  their  numbers  amounted  to  twenty  furloughed 
or  fugitive  secessionists,  skulking  about  their  homes  twenty-five 
miles  away.  But  Wood's  cavalry  thoroughly  scoured  that  neigh 
borhood,  caught  four  of  the  skulkers,  brought  them  prisoners  to 
Rolla  and  forever  settled  the  story  of  the  three  black  crows. 

There  is  no  community  on  earth  so  frequently  the  sport  of 
rumors  wild  and  strange  as  a  camp  of  raw  recruits  contiguous  to 
an  enemy.  For  stories  the  wildest,  strangest  and  most  unbeliev 
able,  of  the  near  approach  of  enemies,  of  army  movements,  of 
impending  battles,  &c.,  &c.,  commend  me  to  a  camp  of  soldiers 
with  little  to  do.  The  novice  hears  of  fighting,  of  victories  or 
disasters,  in  advance  of  experienced  commanders  aided  by  their 
trusty  scouts  and  appliances  for  gaining  information,  and  acting 
on  his  implicit  belief  in  the  truth  of  these  rumors,  his  knapsack 
is  packed  and  he  sleeps  with  his  sword  or  musket  by  his  side. 
All  this  was  gone  through  with  a  dozen  times  in  the  camp  of  the 
36th.  A  little  experience  soon  teaches  men  to  get  over  this, 
until  an  order  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice  or  to  charge  an 
enemy's  position  is  received  with  entire  equanimity. 


FAILURE    OF    FREMONT'S    CAMPAIGN.  83 

News  of  the  capture  and  occupation  of  Springfield  by  Gen. 
Fremont  was  followed  by  a  requisition  for  supplies  from  Holla. 
Most  of  the  cavalry  at  the  Post,  including  a  detachment  from 
Company  A,  of  the  36th,  was  sent  as  escort  to  a  large  train  laden 
with  army  stores  to  the  front,  with  Lieut.  Col.  Joslyn  in  com 
mand.  Judge  Sample  Orr,  with  a  long  cavalcade  of  Union  refu 
gees  from  the  southwest,  joined  the  command,  hoping  under  the 
protecting  care  of  the  escort  to  be  able  to  reach  their  homes  and 
remain  in  peace  and  safety  under  the  shadow  of  the  stars  and 
stripes,  borne  by  Fremont's  victorious  legions,  who,  it  was  reported, 
had  swept  the  country  of  secessionists,  and  sent  them  skurrying  in 
inordinate  haste  and  terror  to  the  wilds  of  Arkansas. 

Fremont's  southwestern  campaign,  from  which  grand  achieve 
ments  were  earnestly  hoped  for  and  confidently  expected  by  the 
country,  proved  to  be  a  stupendous  failure ;  and  that  officer  was 
superseded  in  the  command  of  the  Department  by  General  Hal- 
leek,  who  signalized  his  accession  to  power  by  relieving  Fremont 
from  the  command  of  the  Army  while  in  full  career  of  triumph, 
placing  Gen.  Hunter  in  charge  and  recalling  the  expedition. 
The  troops  which  a  few  days  before  had  marched  from  Sedalia 
and  Rolla  so  sanguine  of  success,  rejoicing  that  the  period  of  inac 
tivity  was  broken  and  that  at  length  they  were  to  come  down  to 
work ;  that  work  the  sweeping  of  secession  forever  beyond  the 
borders  of  Missouri,  contributing  to  the  final  termination  and 
entire  overthrow  of  rebellion,  alas,  was  changed  to  a  dispiriting 
retreat.  Not  a  retreat  with  shattered  ranks,  torn  by  shot,  before 
a  proud,  victorious  foe,  and  as  broken  wrecks  from  some  disas 
trous  conflict ;  but  with  full  ranks,  flying  banners,  unsoiled  uni 
forms,  as  free  from  smoke  and  smell  of  gunpowder  as  if  at 
home  in  the  North,  quietly  at  work  in  shop  or  field. 

Among  the  troops  that  returned  to  Rolla  from  Springfield  was 
the  splendid  13th  111.,  with  Wyman's  Brigade,  also  the  Divisions 


84  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

of  Sigel  and  Asboth.  Sigel  was  regarded  as  the  lion  of  the  hour, 
and  his  appearance  in  the  camps  was  the  signal  for  an  ovation. 
Small  of  stature,  but  lithe  and  active,  his  conversation  somewhat 
broken,  he  had  not  that  stolid  sluggishness  which  characterizes 
the  average  u  lager  beer  "  German.  Not  his  dress,  nor  his  quick, 
jerky  conversation,  revealed  the  general  and  superior  commander 
so  much  as  a  fiery,  restless  eye,  which  at  once  attracts,  fascinates 
and  pleases.  He  was  a  man  of  battles,  accustomed  to  the  roar 
the  smoke  and  carnage  of  deadly  conflict,  with  a  name  and  fame 
already  historic,  who  considered  the  putting  down  of  rebellion  a 
religious  duty.  The  men  were  enthusiastic  to  "fight  mit  Sigel." 
But  enough  of  adulation ;  we  shall  know  him  better  by  and  by 
when  we  have  marched  with  him  through  the  lanes  of  death. 

Gen.  Asboth  also  visited  the  camp  of  the  36th.  He  appeared 
as  rigid  and  stern  as  an  iron  statue.  A  grim  son  of  War,  he  had 
not  that  magnetic  influence  over  men,  arousing  their  enthusiasm, 
like  Sigel.  Asboth,  after  a  review  and  dress  parade  conducted 
by  himself,  pronounced  the  36th  the  finest  appearing  and  best 
drilled  in  the  manual  of  arms  of  any  regiment  in  the  service ;  a 
compliment  of  no  mean  significance  when  we  consider  the  high 
source  from  whence  it  emanated. 

We  had  now  fairly  settled  down  in  camp  and  fully  embarked 
in  housekeeping,  when  the  wives  of  Col.  Greusel,  Capt.  Pearce 
and  Capt.  Baldwin  came  and  took  up  their  abode  with  us,  dis 
tributing  rays  of  glorious  sunshine,  and  reminding  us  of  social 
life  in  America.  The  presence  of  these  truly  magnificent  women 
was  the  cause  of  their  husbands  being  subjects  of  envy  all  over 
the  regiment.  Never  before  had  the  men  so  fully  appreciated 
the  value  of  a  yard  of  calico — the  shimmer  of  bright  eyes,  the 
sheen  of  a  tress,  or  the  flutter  of  a  ribbon,  as  now.  To  men  who 
for  weeks  had  hardly  seen  a  woman's  face  radiant  with  smiles 


APPRECIATION    OF   THE    LADIES.  85 

arid  beaming  with  intelligence,  the  presence  of  these  ladies  awa 
kened  fresh  memories  of  home  and  the  well  remembered  associa 
tions  of  other  days ;  kindled  anew  the  love  for  wives,  mothers, 
sisters  and  sweethearts,  and  endeared  every  adjunct  of  femininity 
left  behind.  The  roughest  soldier  in  the  ranks  was  chastened 
into  propriety,  behaved  better,  aye,  and  fought  better,  from  the 
presence  of  true,  loyal  and  lovely  women  among  them.  An  influ 
ence  for  good  pervaded  the  camp  from  their  being  in  it.  Their 
visits  to  the  hospital  and  ministrations  to  the  suffering  ones  gave 
life  and  hope  where  else  would  have  been  despair  and  death. 

Mrs.  Greusel  knew  what  it  is  to  be  the  wife  of  a  sol 
dier,  and  the  patient  endurance  of  long  months  of  separation, 
with  the  care  of  children  on  her  hands,  while  the  husband  is 
away  in  his  country's  service.  .  She  had  passed  through  it  all 
while  her  husband  was  fighting  the  country's  battles  on  the 
plains  of  Mexico.  Truly  the  country  owes  much  to  its  heroic 
daughters  as  well  as  to  its  brave  sons. 

Mrs.  Pearce  was  a  superb  horsewoman,  an  easy,  graceful  rider, 
and  flashed  over  the  hills  and  valleys  like  a  ray  of  light,  and  often 
alone,  as  free  and  fearless  as  a  trooper. 

Pay-day  came  at  last — we  had  begun  to  despair  of  ever  seeing 
its  bright  dawning — and  the  regiment  was  made  happy  by  the 
appearance  of  Major  Kinney  with  his  money  bags.  That  night 
the  men  retired  to  their  bunks  rejoicing  in  the  possession  of  their 
hard  earned  shekels.  Many  thousands  of  it  were  sent  home  to 
gladden  the  hearts  of  wives  and  children,  while  other  thousands 
changed  hands  by  the  shuffle  of  the  cards,  and  by  all  the  tricks 
and  devices  which  camp  followers  and  camp  leeches  could  invent 
to  wring  the  hard  earned  cash  from  the  pockets  of  their  fellows. 
Not  the  least  in  expressions  of  satisfaction  at  the  appearance 
of  this  auspicious  day  was  the  sutler.  He  did  an  enormous  busi 
ness  at  an  enormous  profit,  and  at  night  his  establishment  was  as 


86  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

empty  of  eatables  and  articles  of  prime  necessity  as  though  a  rebel 
army  corps  had  gone  through  it. 

But  if  pay-day  was  fraught  with  blessings  to  some,  it  brought 
its  curse  upon  others.  I  doubt  if  twelve  hundred  men  can  be 
promiscuously  brought  together,  but  that  some  will  be  found  with 
a  constitutional  thirst  for  intoxicating  liquors.  Men  who  were 
thought  to  be  exemplary  in  their  habits  were  now  found  in  that 
soggy  condition  which  induces  the  hugging  of  telegraph  poles  in 
the  laudable  endeavor  of  steadying  the  world.  Notwithstanding 
stringent  orders  against  its  introduction,  somehow  "tarantula" 
found  its  way  to  Holla. 

A  trooper  belonging  to  Company  B  Cavalry,  who  had  suffered 
for  two  whole  months  without  a  glass  of  whisky,  nay,  without  so 
much  as  a  smell  of  it,  found  means  for  getting  out  of  camp  and 
soon  was  drunk — drunk  all  over ;  he  continued  so  for  three  days, 
and  of  course  for  that  period  was  absent  from  roll-call.  After 
sobering  up  he  returned  to  camp,  reported  his  absence  and  the 
cause  of  it  to  the  Colonel,  who  reproved  him  sharply,  but  as  this 
was  his  first  offense  he  concluded  not  to  punish  him,  making  him 
promise,  however,  to  keep  sober  in  the  future.  On  reporting  to 
Capt.  Smith  for  duty,  that  officer  caused  his  immediate  arrest, 
personally  assisted  in  tying  his  hands,  gagging  him  by  passing  a 
rope  through  his  mouth,  and  then  jerked  the  poor  fellow  about 
the  Company  quarters  until  his  mouth  and  tongue  were  badly 
lacerated  and  bleeding ;  then,  just  for  the  fun  of  the  thing, 
kicked  him  brutally  as  he  lay  helpless  on  the  ground.  This  was 
too  much  for  average  human  nature  to  endure,  and  the  men  inter 
fered  and  rescued  their  comrade  from  further  violence.  Ascer 
taining  the  extent  of  his  injuries,  a  simultaneous  rush  was  made 
for  the  Captain,  with  the  avowed  intention  of  putting  an  eternal 
quietus  to  his  kicking  and  gagging  propensities.  The  uproar 


DISMISSAL    OF   CAPT.    SMITH.  87 

caused  by  these  summary  proceedings  attracted  the  attention  of 
the  officer  of  the  day,  who  called  out  the  camp  guard  for  the  Cap 
tain's  protection,  but  he  had  to  leave  camp  and  sought  refuge  in 
a  house  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  where  he  lay  concealed  dur 
ing  the  night  and  succeeding  day.  The  next  night  he  was  secretly 
conducted  to  Dillon,  a  station  six  miles  from  Rolla,  on  the  rail 
road,  and  when  the  next  train  passed  he  went  with  it  to  St.  Louis. 
He  was  afterward  cashiered  and  dismissed  from  the  service. 
Such  brutality  might  be  appreciated  among  Camanche  savages, 
but  the  army  of  the  United  States,  particularly  that  branch  of  it 
to  which  by  some  unfortunate  circumstance  he  had  been  attached, 
could  very  wrell  dispense  with  his  services.  He  was  succeeded  in 
the  command  of  the  Company  by  SAMUEL  B.  SHERER,  of 
Aurora. 

The  weather  during  these  days  of  patient  waiting  at  Rolla  was 
for  the  most  part  delightful.  Never  was  there  a  more  favorable 
time  for  marching,  and  that  we  were  to  advance  very  soon  was 
taken  for  granted.  Whither  and  when,  were  questions  which 
ruled  the  hour.  Squads  of  prisoners,  reports  of  skirmishes  and 
occasional  mutterings  of  battle  from  the  south-west,  where  Fre 
mont  was  driving  all  before  him,  gave  rise  to  conjectures  as  to  a 
time  in  the  near  future  when  we  should  receive  orders  to  march 
to  our  first  baptism  of  blood.  Rumors  as  usual  often  fixed  the 
hour,  but  day  succeeded  day  and  weeks  followed  in  quiet  succes 
sion,  and  we  did  not  move.  It  was  not  for  subordinates  unac 
quainted  with  all  the  reasons  for  delay  to  trouble  themselves  on 
this  point,  so  we  made  the  best  of  it,  gradually  settling  down  to 
bear  with  cheerful  philosophy  the  monotony  of  camp  life. 
Abundance  of  food  was  served  to  the  men ;  Joe,  the  sutler,  was 
always  ready  to  add  to  the  government  ration  his  supplementary 
trash,  and  the  pie  and  cake  women  still  found  a  ready  market  for 


88  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

their  leathery  wares.  So  passed  September,  October  and  Novem 
ber;  the  hills,  fields  and  woodland  basking  in  glorious  sunshine. 
We  realized  in  its  rich  fulness  the  appropriateness  of  the  term, 
"The  sunny  South." 

There  were  times  when  the  south-west  winds  would  come  rush 
ing  through  camp  rather  too  briskly  for  comfort;  when  clouds  of 
dust  would  roll  up  from  the  parade  ground  ;  hats,  shingles  and 
clothing  hung  out  to  air  would  be  caught  in  the  breeze  and  go 
skurrying  eastward.  At  such  times  the  principal  occupation  of 
the  men  on  returning  from  drill  would  be  to  dig  the  sand  and 
gravel  from  their  eyes,  the  dust  from  their  ears,  and  with  soap 
and  towel  proceed  to  remove  the  strata  "of  Missouri  soil  which 
masked  their  faces  and  was  sprinkled  in  superlative  nastiness 
over  their  clothing  and  person. 

By  the  last  of  November  the  air  became  crisp  and  frosty. 
The  winds  changed  to  the  north,  and  men  wrapped  in  their  over 
coats  and  mufflers  went  shivering  to  their  posts  of  duty.  The 
skies  became  overcast  with  dark,  heavy  clouds,  giving  notice  of 
the  approach  of  winter.  Then  came  the  rain;  not  in  gentle 
showers  to  lay  the  dust,  usually  more  refreshing  than  disagree 
able,  but  a  cold,  driving  storm,  mixed  with  sleet,  which,  aided  by 
the  wind,  sought  every  nook  and  cranny  about  the  camp ;  through 
every  opening  into  the  tents  ;  penetrating  the  clothing  and  cutting 
the  faces  of  such  as  were  compelled  by  duty  to  endure  it.  Canals 
and  ditches  for  drainage  purposes  were  dug  and  means  adopted 
for  preventing  the  deluging  of  the  quarters,  or  the  winds  from 
eddying  under  and  through  the  canvas-walled  habitations.  The 
weather  accomplished  what  the  wishes  of  the  men  had  failed  to 
effect,  and  the  daily  drills  for  a  time  were  suspended. 

For  hours  the  patient  cooks  sought  to  work  out  the  difficult 
problem  of  how  to  make  a  fire  from  green  wood,  in  a  puddle  and 


COOKING    UNDER    DIFFICULTIES.  89 

midst  the  driving  rain.  Fire  and  water  were  brought  into  fierce 
conflict,  fire  finally  triumphing,  and  a  pale,  sickly  flame  flickered 
up  through  the  dark  smoke-wreaths ;  not  enough  for  warmth,  but 
sufficient  to  simmer  the  coffee  and  soften  the  beans,  which,  together 
with  hard  tack,  eaten  in  the  tents,  were  the  luxuries  we  thrived 
upon.  The  trails  cut  through  the  brush,  which  by  some  misno 
mer  were  called  roads,  were  changed  to  quagmires,  through  which 
the  army  wagons  sent  out  for  wood  were  with  difficulty  dragged. 
Little  mud  holes  became  miniature  lakes.  Unless  duty  impera 
tively  required  it,  the  men  remained  quietly  in  camp.  A  trip  to 
the  outposts  was  like  an  aquatic  excursion,  better  performed  by 
web-footed  horses  and  men. 

This  season  of  alternate  rain  and  snow,  of  u  sailing  through 
muddy  seas,"  lasted  but  a  few  days,  when  again  from  a  rift  in 
the  clouds  the  sun  looked  smilingly  down  and  greeted  us.  Such 
was  the  winter  of  1861-2  in  Missouri;  alternating  from  sleet  to 
sunshine,  from  roads  as  hard  as  pavements,  to  seas  of  plastic 
mud.  Without  ice  and  with  little  snow,  and  hills  not  frozen  to 
adamant,  like  the  stern-visaged  Winter  of  the  North. 

With  the  abandonment  of  the  southwest  and  return  of  the  army 
to  Rolla,  came  vast  crowds  of  refugees,  fleeing  not  only  from  rebel 
outrage,  but  from  starvation  and  death.  Their  few  remaining 
goods,  chattels  and  effects  spared  by  the  plundering  hordes  of 
Price  and  the  guerrilla  bands  which  everywhere  ranged  the  coun 
try  for  spoil,  were  tumbled  promiscuously  into  dilapidated  ox-carts 
or  squeaking  wagons  drawn  by  jaded  oxen  or  horses,  as  lean 
and  starved  as  Pharaoh's  kine.  Each  convoy  was  accompa 
nied  by  a  pack  of  lank,  wolfish  dogs  and  swarms  of  ragged,  sun 
burned  children  on  foot,  often  without  shoes.  They  took  their 
sorrowful  journey  as  outcasts  from  the  homes  which  had  sheltered 
them,  and  with  the  North  Star  as  their  cynosure  they  fled  to  the 


90  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

line  of  the  Union  armies  for  protection.  Family  after  family 
thronged  to  Rolla  as  the  "  Mecca"  of  their  hopes.  The  father, 
careworn  and  dejected,  trudged  along  the  dusty  road;  the  moth 
er,  anxious,  yet  patient ;  the  children,  with  a  curious  mixture  of 
wonder  and  excitement  that  served  to  buoy  up  rather  than  depress, 
and  all  in  the  lowest  stages  of  destitution.  Their  houses  had 
been  burned,  their  cattle  driven  away,  their  farms  devastated  and 
themselves  cast  out  upon  a  cold  and  cheerless  world.  One  could  not 
contemplate  without  horror  the  thousands  of  families  brutally 
driven  from  their  homes,  wending  their  way  over  the  mountain, 
and  with  blood-stained  feet  crowding  to  Rolla  and  begging  for  the 
bread  which  their  own  fellow  countrymen  in  the  ranks  of  seces 
sion  had  deprived  them  of.  Many  had  fathers,  sons,  or  husbands 
in  the  ranks  of  the  federal  army  and  were  now  bearing  northward 
mute  testimonials  of  their  devotion  and  sacrifices.  From  this 
heterogeneous  mass  of  human  beings  Col.  Phelps  derived  many 
recruits,  for  from  the  fires  of  persecution  patriots  arose,  as  Christ 
ians  arise  from  the  blood  of  martyrs. 

There  were  now  about  ten  thousand  men  gathered  in  the  vari 
ous  camps  in  and  about  Rolla.  Each  separate  regiment  or  com 
mand,  like  the  36th,  had  little  or  nothing  to  do.  In  the  calm, 
beautiful  evenings  groups  of  officers  would  stroll  from  camp  to 
camp  to  chat  with  old  acquaintances  or  new  found  friends,  and 
thus  pass  the  hours  in  the  interchange  of  friendly  courtesies.  A 
favorite  resort  at  such  times  was  Fort  Wyman,  which  commanded 
a  view  for  many  miles  over  the  surrounding  country.  Far  away 
jn  every  direction  flashed  a  thousand  camp  fires,  each  tent  illu 
minated,  and  a  little  aid  from  the  imagination  would  change  the 
lovely  scene  to  a  stately  city  with  its  broad  avenues,  replete  with 
life  and  the  hum  of  business.  Then  would  come  the  reflection 
that  these  were  not  the  peaceful  residences  and  happy  firesides  of 


CAMP    FIRE    EXPERIENCES.  91 

quiet  citizens,  but  the  temporary  shelter  of  those  who,  far  away 
from  loved  ones,  had  taken  their  lives  in  their  hands  in  defence 
of  home  and  fatherland. 

Near  at  hand  were  the  sheltering  tents  and  blazing  camp-fires 
of  Col.  Phelps;  southwest  along  the  valley  of  Beaver  Creek,  and 
following  the  sinuosities  of  its  course  for  miles,  the  camp-fires  of 
Wyrnan,  Sigel  and  Asboth's  Divisions  presented  long  avenues  of 
flame — for  before  each  tent  was  blazing  a  pile  of  black-jack  logs-— 
vieing  with  each  other  in  the  grandeur  of  the  illumination.  The 
exact  location  of  each  could  be  distinctly  traced  by  the  bright 
lights  marked  and  reflected  from  the  heavens  above. 

At  the  foot  of  the  hill  the  36th  and  4th  Iowa  were  located 
nearly  under  our  feet,  and  one  might  almost  fancy  what  the  men 
were  talking  about,  as  around  each  ripple  of  flame  they  were  seen 
grouped  in  conversation,  or  engaged  in  various  occupations. 
Some,  of  course,  were  boiling  the  inevitable  coffee  pot,  for  it  mat 
ters  not  what  the  hour,  no  camp-fire  was  ever  without  a  soldier 
making  coffee  ;  some  are  reading,  some  playing  cards  and  others 
simply  keeping  warm. 

At  the  Fort,  guards  and  prisoners  were  on  equal  terms  of  social 
intercourse  and  sat  promiscuously  about  the  fire,  smoking  pipes 
and  telling  yarns.  One  Corporal  Baughman,  from  Phelps'  regi 
ment,  was  a  genius  in  his  odd,  Missouri  way.  Talking  of  mos 
quitoes  the  old  fellow  remarked,  "  That  reminds  me  of  Arkansaw, 
whar  thar's  a  right  smart  sprinkle  of  them  kind  of  varmints  thar. 
Thar  is  whar  a  man  can  hold  his  arm  extended  in  the  air  for  a 
minute  and  then  by  suddenly  hauling  it  in,  leave  a  hole  in  the 
air  just  the  size  and  shape  of  his  arm." 

And  then  followed  some  of  his  experience  as  a  pioneer  in  the 
south-west.  In  the  early  settlement  of  Springfield,  neighbors, 
like  angels'  visits,  were  few  and  far  between.  For  his  first  year's 


92  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

provisions  he  raised  a  patch  of  buckwheat,  and  taking  it  to  a  mill 
for  grinding,  the  miller,  a  South  Carolinian,  thought  he  would 
like  some,  and  purchased  a  quantity  for  his  own  use.  His  wife, 
entirely  ignorant  of  the  manner  of  its  preparation,  undertook  to 
make  light  bread  of  it,  but  after  two  or  three  trials  and  failures, 
threw  the*  stuff  away,  declaring  "old  Baughman  a  fraud  and 
cheat,"  and  a  candidate  for  a  "  licking  on  sight." 

And  this  one  on  Harrison,  of  the  36th,  came  out.  While  on 
duty  at  the  Fort  he  patronized  a  Missouri  woman  for  milk.  One 
morning  he  was  early  after  his  accustomed  ration  of  the  lacteal, 
and  found  the  good  dame  "palling  the  cow."  Being  a  Yankee, 
he  could  not  wait  in  silence  but  plied  the  woman  with  questions, 
among  which  was  the  enquiry  if  her  cow  was  a  good  one  for  milk. 
"Mighty  good/' was  the  reply.  "She  dont  give  a  very  peart 
flow  now,  yet  I  reckon  she  gives  a  right  smart  sprinkle." 

And  Lieut.  Pritchard  gave  a  chapter  of  his  experience  among 
the  "Pukes."  At  one  time  on  his  way  from  Rolla  to  Salem,  he 
called  at  a  cabin  for  water.  The  family  were  at  dinner,  and 
when  the  mother  arose  to  procure  a  gourd  full  of  the  aqua  pura 
for  the  stranger,  two  stripling  girls  monopolized  the  sorghum 
dish,  and  went  for  its  contents  their  level  best,  by  dipping  their 
corn  bread  into  the  molasses  and  then  getting  outside  of  the 
smeared  and  dripping  morsels  as  greedily  and  speedily  as  possi 
ble.  One.  not  entirely  satsified  with  the  share  she  was  able  to 
secure,  called  out  to  the  mother  on  her  return  from  the  spring : 
"Mam  !  Mam !  Sal  dips  twice  into  the  deep  to  my  once  in  the 
"shaller,  and  you  know  lasses  is  scarce." 

The  following  was  also  told  and  vouched  for  as  a  fact:  Among 
the  secluded  hills  somewhere  in  Missouri,  one  of  the  "natives" 
had  in  the  course  of  years,  by  hard  labor  and  economy,  saved  up 
his  shekels,  and  in  addition  to  broad  acres  had  an  abundance  of 


MISSOURI    GIRLS    DINING    OUT.  93 

gold  and  silver.     Business  called  him  to  St.  Louis,  and  lie   took 

• 

his  daughters  along,  who  flashed  like  full  blown  hollyhocks  in 
ribbons  and  calico.  While  at  dinner  at  the  Planters',  a  guest  at 
the  opposite  side  of  the  table  was  observed  to  dip  his  bread  into 
the  syrup  dish  and  proceed  to  its  mastication.  One  of  the  daugh 
ters  observing  this,  plunged  her  corn  bread  into  the  same  dish  in 
backwoods  style,  at  the  same  time  calling  out  to  her  sister: 
"  Sail !  Sail !  Why  dont  you  wallup  yer  dodger  into  the  sop  ? 
"  Pap's 'got  as  much  money  as  enny  on  em,  I  reckon." 

But  it  is  nine  o'clock.  Tattoo  is  sounding  from  bugle,  fife, 
drum  and  horn,  and  twenty  regimental  bands  take  up  the  refrain 
and  a  wilderness  of  sweet  sounds  and  swelling  notes  come  welling 
up  like  some  strong  fountain  upheaving  its  wealth  of  sparkling 
foam  and  seething  waters.  Thanks  for  the  regimental  bands,  and 
thrice  grateful  for  the  rich  harmonies  which  come  floating  up 
from  their  silvery  horns.  Then  wending  our  way  slowly  and 
thoughtfully  through  the  various  camps  to  our  quarters,  the 
thought  impresses  itself  upon  our  minds  that  there  is  not  one  in 
all  this  great  camp  of  many  thousands  of  sleepers,  who  has  not 
left  some  one  to  mourn  his  absence ;  not  one  so  poor  and  mean 
as  to  be  without  some  tie  binding  him  to  others,  arid  liable  at  any 
time  to  be  broken  by  the  rude  touch  of  war. 

The  large  army  gathered  about  Rolla  did  not  altogether  pine 
in  inglorious  inaction  or  rust  with  idleness.  Predatory  bands 
followed  up  the  retreat  from  the  south-west,  and  infested  the 
country  outside  our  picket  lines.  The  cavalry  were  constantly 
on  the  wing,  gathering  up  stray  parties  who  ventured  too  near 
our  lines,  and  frequently  dealing  telling  blows,  giving  the  "•  but 
ternuts"  a  foretaste  of  what  was  in  store  for  them  when  once 
the  dogs  of  war  were  let  loose.  Wood's  Kansas  Rangers  filled 
them  with  terror,  and  Wright,  Montgomery,  Switzler  and  Bowen 
haunted  them  like  ghosts  of  the  departed. 


94  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

November  30th,  Major  Bowen  proceeded  with  a  detachment 
from  his  batallion  to  Salem,  the  county  seat  of  Dent  County, 
about  thirty  miles  distant.  The  weather  was  stormy  and  the 
roads  fearfully  muddy,  and  on  his  arrival  after  dark,  weary  and 
wet,  finding  no  enemy,  he  quartered  his  command  in  the  vacant 
houses  scattered  in  various  parts  of  the  town.  Not  appre 
hending  danger,  pickets  were  not  posted,  as  should  have  been 
done.  In  the  night  they  were  surprised  by  Col.  Freeman  and 
Col.  Turner's  rebel  bands  ;  were  fired  upon  through  the 'windows 
and  a  number  killed  and  wounded.  Bowen  soon  rallied  his  ter 
rified  men  around  the  Court  House,  and  after  a  hotly  contested 
engagement  repulsed  the  enemy  with  some  loss. 

Captains  Switzer  and  Montgomery  were  sent  to  Bowen's  relief, 
and  the  united  commands  set  out  in  pursuit  of  Freeman,  pressing 
him  so  closely  down  the  valley  of  Currant  river  that  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  it  for  the  mountains.  Our  cavalry  continued 
their  march  some  distance  beyond  until  night,  and  then  struck 
across  the  country  to  head  off  their  wary,  as  well  as  wily,  foe. 
Coming  to  an  open  country,  they  descried  the  enemy's  camp-fires 
at  a  distance,  and  proceeded  in  silence  until  in  close  proximity 
to  their  camp,  when,  at  the  word  of  command,  a  volley  from  our 
carbines  went  crashing  among  the  surprised  and  bewildered 
foe,  who  started  up  and  fled  in  every  direction,  without  firing  a 
gun.  The  rebel  loss  was  not  known,  except  in  prisoners,  fifty  of 
whom  were  taken  and  graced  the  triumphant  return  of  the  expe 
dition  to  Rolla. 

Captain  Jenks,  witli  a  detachment  from  Co.  A  of  the  86th  cav 
alry,  led  an  expedition  in  the  direction  of  Crawford  County,  and, 
though  no  collision  at  arms  with  the  enemy  occurred,  a  large 
number  of  sympathisers  and  active  secessionists  were  apprehended; 
brought  to  Rolla  and  incarcerated  at  the  Fort,  where  they  enjoyed 
a  season  of  rest  from  their  predatory  meanderings. 


CAMP   WYMAN    FILLED    WITH    PRISONERS.  95 

Thus  were  the  ranks  of  copper-bottomed  prisoners  rapidly 
recruited,  until  the  narrow  limits  of  Fort  Wyman  could  not  con 
tain  them.  Among  them  wTere  Lieut.  Col.  Somers,  Captains 
Worsham  and  Bohannon,  together  with  other  officers  of  lesser 
note.  Numbers  were  sent  to  St.  Louis  for  confinement  in  the 
Gratiot  prison ;  some  renounced  their  faith  in  secession,  express 
ing  a  willingness  to  enlist  in  the  Federal  service,  and  there 
upon  were  released,  joining  some  of  the  Missouri  regiments. 
One  of  the  prisoners,  a  boy  eighteen  years  of  age,  Avas  visited  by 
his  mother  and  sisters,  who  urged  him  to  renounce  secession, 
swear  allegiance  to  the  Government  of  the  United  States  and 
return  home  with  them.  Their  appeal  was  in  vain.  On  their 
knees,  with  streaming  eyes  and  swelling  hearts,  they  implored 
him  to  give  up  the  heresy  of  secession,  but  he,  with  firmness 
and  a  self-reliance  and  composure  far  beyond  his  years,  declared 
that  he  would  rot  in  prison  before  he  would  take  the  hated  oath 
or  violate  his  obligation  to  the  Confederate  Government — an 
exhibition  of  firmness  and  independence  of  character  which  in  a 
righteous  cause  would  have  been  admired  and  commended. 

The  scouting  parties  which  penetrated  the  enemy's  country, 
yielding  a  rich  harvest  of  prisoners,  were  almost  exclusively  com 
posed  of  cavalry,  while  the  infantry  remained  in  the  camps  of 
instruction  or  in  the  performance  of  Post  duty,  sometimes  at 
other  stations  than  Rolla.  Capt.  Miller,  with  Company  B,  in 
the  month  of  December  occupied  St.  Clair,  a  small  station  on  the 
railroad,  fifty  miles  east  of  Rolla,  holding  it  as  a  Post  for  several 
days ;  but  guard  duty  was  light,  and  the  troops  both  at  Rolla  arid 
along  the  railroad  were  comparatively  idle.  As  yet  the  weather 
was  too  delightful  to  permit  the  thought  of  winter  quarters,  and 
it  was  impossible  for  the  troops  to  divest  themselves  of  the  belief 
that  to-morrow,  or  next  day,  or  the  day  after,  they  would  cer- 


96  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

tainly  move  to  fields  of  more  exciting  interest  than  the  dull  routine 
of  the  camp.  0  this  interminable  waiting  !  Nothing  so  demor 
alizes  men,  so  dilutes  their  manhood,  so  corrodes  their  patriotism, 
destroys  their  enthusiasm,  steals  away  their  cheerfulness  and 
impairs  their  health,  as  to  pen  them  up  in  camp  and  condemn 
them  to  weeks  and  months  of  listless  do-nothingism.  Card  play 
ing,  at  first  resorted  to  as  an  occasional  pastime,  eventually  degen 
erates  into  gambling,  out  of  which  grow  quarrels  and  the  acqui 
sition  of  bad  habits  not  easily  overcome.  In  time  the  intelligent 
and  refined  become  rough  and  brutal,  a  result  traced  directly  to 
the  enervating  influence  of  idle  hours.  Crimination  and  recrim- 
mination  among  officers,  followed  by  charges  and  courts  martial, 
are  the  inevitable  fruit  of  idleness.  For  those  who  are  constantly 
busy,  either  physically  or  mentally,  have  not  time  to  indulge  in 
wrangles,  or  share  in  the  rivalries  and  jealousies  which  spring  up 
among  those  ambitious  of  position  and  restive  under  restraint. 

The  equanimity  of  camp  was  disturbed  by  the  appearance 
of  Lieut.  Walker  of  Company  I,  armed  with  a  commission 
from  Gov.  Yates  and  backed  by  orders  from  the  Depart 
ment  Commander.  Walker's  friends  in  the  Company  greeted 
him  warmlv,  but  a  hurricane  or  an  earthquake  could  riot  have 
produced  more  consternation  to  his  enemies  than  his  untimely 
apparition  among  them.  Walker  promptly  reported  himself  for 
duty,  and  at  dress  parades  he  and  Lieut.  Merrill  stood  side 
by  side,  neither  yielding  an  inch,  while  Walker's  Commission, 
(the  only  one  in  the  regiment),  and  orders  from  Department  head 
quarters  secured  his  person  from  violence,  but  could  not  smother 
the  rage  and  infinite  disgust  of  his  enemies.  The  whole  camp 
was  in  a  ferment,  and,  however  much  men  desired  it,  it  was  next 
to  impossible  to  remain  in  a  state  of  neutrality.  Dissensions 
between  regimental  officers  arose  in  regard  to  the  course  to  be 


LIEUT.    WALKER    PREFERS    CHARGES.  97 

pursued  towards  Walker.  Days  passed,  and  still  the  Colonel 
remained  firm  and  steadfastly  refused  to  officially  recognize 
Walker's  claims  to  the  position  of  First  Lieutenant. 

This  finally  culminated  in  charges  preferred  by  Walker  against 
Col.  Greusel,  Capt.  Camp  and  Lieut.  Merrill,  the  substance  of 
which  charges  were  to  the  effect  that  Col.  Greusel  refused  to 
recognize  the  Commission  of  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Illi 
nois;  that  together  with  Capt.  Camp  he  had  resisted  with  force 
and  arms  his  reinstatement  in  his  position  in  the  Company.  Their 
arrest  and  suspension  from  duty  soon  followed,  and  Lieut.  Walker- 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Company.  Shortly  after,  while 
absent  as  officer  of  the  day,  an  effigy  was  hung  in  a  tree  upon 
which  was  written,  u  I've  got  my  posish!"  which  attracted  large 
crowds  from  every  part  of  the  Regiment.  Lieut.  Col.  Jos- 
lyn  caused  its  removal  and  administered  a  scathing  rebuke  to  the 
officer  of  the  guard  for  allowing  such  an  outrage  to  be  perpetrated 
within  the  confines  of  the  camp.  Weeks  passed  and  matters 
remained  in  statu  quo,  no  commission  being  appointed  to  try 
the  charges  until  January,  after  Gen.  Curtis  had  assumed  the 
command  of  the  "Army  of  the  Southwest,"  when  G.  M.  DODGE, 
Col.  4th  Iowa  Vol.,  C.  B.  HOLLAND,  Lieut.  Col.  25th  Missouri 
Vol.,  arid  Major  ENGLISH,  4th  Iowa  Vol.,  were  appointed  a  Court 
Martial  to  investigate  the  charges  and  try  the  cases. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  Court  the  regiment  was 
on  the  march  to  the  southwest  and  Walker  absent  in  command  of 
the  Company.  Col.  Brackett,  as  mustering  officer  of  the  regi 
ment,  was  the  only  witness  examined,  and  testified  to  the  muster 
of  Capt.  Camp  and  Lieut.  Merrill  as  officers  of  the  Company,  that 
Walker  was  not  present  and  was  not  mustered  in  any  position  in 
the  Company.  In  five  minutes  after  the  case  was  closed,  the  offi 
cers  were  released  from  arrest  and  ordered  to  the  regiment  for  duty. 


98  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Col.  Greusel  joined  the  regiment  on  the  Big  Piney  Creek  and 
assumed  command.  He  was  received  with  a  perfect  storm  of 
cheers  from  the  men  and  welcomed  back  to  his  old  position. 
Poor  Walker,  professing  to  have  had  enough  of  mud  and  march 
ing  for  that  campaign,  returned  forlorn  and  dejected  to  Rolla, 
resigned  his  commission,  and  ever  after  from  Company  I  and  the 
36th  Regiment  was  going — going — gone ! 

Though  rid  of  Walker,  the  Regiment  was  not  rid  of  dissen 
sions  growing  out  of  his  case,  that  were  too  deep  seated  to  be 
summarily  disposed  of,  and  which  for  a  long  time  impaired  the 
harmonious,  half  family  relations  which  should  exist  between 
officers  of  the  same  regiment  or  command.  Had  Lieut.  Merrill 
been  as  early  and  as  easily  disposed  of  as  Walker,  he  would  have 
escaped  a  humiliating  record  which  for  all  time  must  be  a  blot 
upon  his  military  career. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

ROLLA  TO  PEA  RIDGE. 

ARLY  IN  January,  Brig.  Genl.  SAMUEL  R. 
CURTIS  was  appointed  to  the  Command  of  the 
"Array  of  the  South  West,"  and  proceeding  to 
Rolla  assumed  directions  of  military  matters 
in  that  quarter.  Gen.  Curtis  was  born  in  Ohio, 
and  at  that  time  was  fifty-six  years  of  age.  He 
was  educated  at  West  Point,  from  which  institution  he  graduated 
with  honor  in  1831.  After  nearly  two  years'  service  in  the 
infantry  branch  of  the  regular  army,  he  resigned  his  commission, 
studied  and  practiced  law  for  a  while.  Having  a  natural  taste 
for  engineering,  and  his  acquirements  fitting  him  for  that  pro 
fession,  he  gave  up  the  practice  of  lawr  and  was  for  some  time 
employed  as  chief  engineer  on  various  public  works.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war  he  volunteered  his  services,  was 
appointed  Colonel,  and  served  under  Gen.  Taylor  throughout  his 
campaigns.  He  was  for  a  time  Military  Governor  of  the  City  of 
Monterey,  and  in  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  this  position 
displayed  superior  tact  and  rare  administrative  ability.  After 
his  return,  he  resumed  the  pursuit  of  engineering,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  many  of  the  public  improvements  which  opened  up 


100  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

and  served  to  develop  with  amazing  rapidity  the  young  and  grow 
ing  West. 

He  removed  from  Ohio  to  Iowa,  and  settled  at  Keokuk,  where 
he  was  twice  elected  to  represent  his  District  in  Congress.  Upon 
the  announcement  of  the  fall  of  Sumpter,  which  event  set  the  coun 
try  in  a  fever  of  excitement,  he  hastened  to  Washington,  entering 
the  city  with  the  renowned  7th  New  York  Regiment,  riding 
through  Pennsylvania  Avenue  at  its  head.  He  at  once  tendered 
his  services  to  President  Lincoln,  which  were  accepted ;  resigning 
his  seat  in  Congress,  and  armed  with  the  necessary  authority  he 
proceeded  to  Iowa  and  recruited  the  2nd  Regiment  Iowa  Volun 
teers,  which  was  the  first  in  the  field  from  that  State.  Through  his 
exertions  and  promptness  Northern  Missouri  was  protected  in  its 
loyalty,  and  all  efforts  of  secessionists  to  gain  a  foothold  there 
were  successfully  repelled.  He  was  soon  after  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Brigadier  General  and  appointed  to  the  command  of 
Benton  Barracks  and  the  District  of  St.  Louis,  under  Gen.  Fre 
mont.  The  raw,  undisciplined  regiments  which  were  thrown  into 
Missouri  were  thoroughly  drilled  and  rendered  efficient  troops. 
Under  the  administration  of  Gen.  Halleck,  when  sweeping 
changes  were  made  in  the  commanders  of  troops  operating  in  his 
department,  to  Gen.  Curtis  was  assigned  the  command  of  the 
forces  collected  at  Rolla,  which  was  designated  the  "  Army  of 
the  South-west." 

Immediately  on  his  assumption  of  the  command  a  different 
atmosphere  pervaded  the  camps  and  made  itself  apparent  in  the 
administration  of  military  affairs.  The  men  were  not  long  in 
doubt  as  to  the  question  of  an  early  advance  or  of  continuing  to 
moulder  in  winter  quarters  at  Rolla.  A  rapid  transition  from  a 
state  of  aimless  expectancy  to  busy  preparation  commenced  with 
his  arrival,  pointing  unmistakably  to  a  speedy  movement  upon 


RECONNOITRING   THE    COUNTRY.  101 

the  enemy  in  force.  The  condition  and  wants  of  each  regiment 
with  a.  view  to  active  service  was  enquired  into,  and  all  their 
needs  supplied.  Arms  were  inspected  and  put  in  order,  ordi 
nance  stores,  provisions  and  transportation  were  accumulated  in 
lavish  abundance.  Everything  of  a  superfluous  character  was 
dispensed  with,  including  the  muster  out  of  the  Regimental 
bands,  a  measure,  considered  by  many,  of  doubtful  utility.  The 
fine  band  of  the  36th  were  thus  sent  home,  and  henceforth  we 
missed  their  splendid  serenades,  their  musical  entertainments, 
and  the  enlivening  influence  diffused  throughout  the  camps 
through  the  stirring  airs  of  martial  bands. 

A  thorough  reconnoissance  of  the  country  as  far  as  Lebanon 
wa,s  resolved  upon,  and  all  the  cavalry  at  Rolla,  including  Com 
panies  A  and  B  of  the  36th,  was  detailed  for  that  purpose  and 
placed  under  the  command  of  Col.  Carr,  of  the  3rd  Illinois  Cav 
alry.  The  expedition  was  to  start  at  sunrise  of  the  morning  of 
the  29th  of  December.  The  36th  was  at  the  appointed  rendez 
vous  on  time,  being  the  first  to  report  for  duty,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  batallioTi  of  Major  Morse.  Other  detachments  soon  after 
arrived,  arid  forming  in  line  the  command  was  reviewed  by  Gen. 
Curtis,  who  looked  every  inch  the  soldier  and  high-toned  gentle 
man.  Assuming  a  position  in  front  of  the  line,  he  praised  the 
unusual  fine  appearance  of  the  troops,  and  receiving  the  usual 
salutations  from  officers,  he  gave  the  command.  "By  companies — 
Right  Wheel — March,"  and  the  expedition  was  on  its  way.  The 
sun  shone  brightly  on  the  glistening  sabres,  the  horses  were  fresh 
and  restless,  trying  the  strength  of  their  riders'  muscles  in  main 
taining  their  position  in  the  ranks. 

On  the  second  day  the  36th  Cavalry  was  detailed  as  rear  guard, 
a  position  always  slow,  tiresome  and  disagreeable,  and  on  this 
occasion  made  doublv  so  on  account  of  bad  roads  and  mules, 


102  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

many  of  which  had  never  before  been  harnessed.  The  trains 
were  dragged  with  difficulty  over  hills  and  through  almost  bot 
tomless  ruts,  into  which  the  wagons  plunged,  many  being  cap 
sized  and  broken,  while  mules  were  injured  and  some  killed  out 
right.  The  third  day  from  Rolla  the  command  made  better 
progress,  passing  through  Waynesville,  crossing  the  Gasconade 
and  camping  several  miles  beyond  that  stream. 

Various  rumors  of  the  movement  of  rebel  bands  came  to  the 
ears  of  Col.  Carr,  and  he  decided  to  fall  back  with  the  main 
command  to  the  Gasconade,  but  ordered  Major  Morse  with  his 
batallion,  including  the  36th,  to  scout  the  country  thoroughly. 
A  wide  extent  of  country  was  visited,  straggling  bands  of  seces 
sionists  pursued,  but  none  were  overtaken.  It  rained  the  succeed 
ing  night,  but  froze  a,s  fast  as  it  fell,  covering  their  saddles,  their 
blankets  and  the  earth  with  ice,  while  the  men's'  clothing  was 
completely  saturated.  During  the  day,  Capt.  Lewis  with  another 
detachment  routed  a  band  of  fifty  confederate  soldiers,  and  cap 
tured  a  herd  of  sixty  cattle  which  was  being  driven  to  Price's 
army. 

From  this  time  until  the  middle  of  January,  when  the  main 
army  arrived  from  Rolla,  the  cavalry  were  engaged  in  scouting 
the  country,  reconnoitring  the  enemy,  now  and  then  capturing 
bands  of  secessionists  who  were  making  their  way  to  Price,  and 
gaining  information  that  was  of  infinite  service  in  the  sub 
sequent  advance  of  our  army.  The  school  was  a  severe  one, 
but  much  was  gained  in  habituating  the  men  to  campaign  life, 
perfecting  them  in  their  profession  of  arms,  and,  in  short,  making 
them  cool  and  careful  soldiers ;  and  though  this  advance  was  bar 
ren  of  achievements  at  arms,  it  gave  the  men  an  insight  into  the 
practical  affairs  of  army  life,  and  eminently  fitted  them  for  the 
duties  and  trials  of  the  succeeding  campaign. 


MARCHING    ORDERS    RECEIVED.  103 

To  test  the  condition  of  the  infantry  and  their  military  abili 
ties,  the  regiment  marched  many  miles  over  the  country  and 
through  the  various  camps,  fully  armed,  with  knapsacks  filled, 
and  with  all  the  accoutrements  pertainfng  to  a  first-class  soldier 
of  the  Republic.  A  day  was  thus  spent  in  marching,  and  on 
the  return  to  camp  the  men  were  not  entirely  unanimous  in 
expressions  of  confidence  in  their  ability  to  keep  up  the  same 
performance  day  after  day,  when,  in  addition  to  their  gun  and 
ammunition,  they  should  be  burdened  with  an  amount  of  dry 
goods  and  soldiers'  gear  sufficient  to  stall  a  pack  mule  or  burden 
an  elephant. 

On  the  14th  of  January  marching  orders  were  received.  The 
keen,  frosty  air  and  cutting  wind  sweeping  down  from  the  north 
caused  a  chill,  in  contemplation  of  the  weather  they  were  to 
encounter,  and  the  discomforts  attendant  upon  a  cold  winter's 
march;  but  did  not  abate  a  whit  of  the  enthusiasm  with  which 
the  order  to  "  Fall  in  Men  "  was  received  and  welcomed 
Tents  were  struck  in  a  trice  and  packed  in  the  wagons,  together 
with  other  stores.  The  mass  of  rubbish  which  had  accumulated 
in  camp  during  the  long  stay  at  Holla  was  fearful  to  contemplate. 
Every  man  was  burdened  with  old  letters,  keepsakes,  trinkets, 
curiosities,  extra  clothing,  blankets,  etc.,  in  number  and  amount 
sufficient  to  set  up  an  "  ole  clo'  "  dealer  in  business.  After  pack 
ing  as  many  of  these  as  the  knapsacks  would  possibly  hold,  an 
indiscriminate  destruction  of  the  remainder  ensued.  Letters 
which  had  extracted  a  million  pleasant  emotions,  or  solaced  many 
a  lonely,  homesick  hour  and  others  over  which  tears  had 
been  shed,  were  ruthlessly  cast  into  the  fire  and  the  cherished 
writings  of  many  a  Jerusha,  Julia  and  Mary  Ann  helped  to  swell 
the  wreaths  of  flame  from  huge  bon-fires,  their  names  and  mem 
ories  all  forgotten  in  the  hurry,  the  bustle  and  excitement  of  prepa 
ration  for  the  march.  Two  o'clock  came  ere  tents  and  baggage 


104  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

were  disposed  of  and  the  column  formed  and  headed  "  Dixieward." 
A  march  of  five  miles  was  made,  when  a  halt  was  ordered,  the 
camp  formed,  tents  pitched  in  the  snow,  and  cold  and  supperless 
(for  the  provision  wagons  had  not  come  up),  the  men  retired  to 
sleep  off  the  excitement  and  fatigue  of  the  day. 

The  correspondent  of  the  St.  Louis  Democrat,  in  his  observa 
tions  on  this  occasion,  which  were  published  in  the  issue  of  the 
16th,  contained  the  following  notice  of  the  march  of  the  troops 
from  Holla : 

"A  Brigade  composed  of  four  Regiments  of  Infantry  and  two 
"  batteries  under  the  command  of  General  Osterhaus  have  moved 
<fc  west  from  this  place.  The  troops  were  in  excellent  spirits  and 
"  were  as  follows  :  The  36th,  35th  and  44th  Illinois  and  the  25th 
"  Missouri.  The  splendid  appearance  of  the  36th  Illinois,  twelve 
u  hundred  strong,  in  their  march  out  of  town  received  the  unqual 
ified  and  unanimous  admiration  of  the  spectators." 

This  was  not  an  unmerited  compliment.  The  36th  at  that 
time,  in  discipline,  in  perfection  of  drill,  soldiery  bearing  and  in 
all  the  essentials  which  enter  into  the  make  up  of  a  superior  com 
mand,  was  not  equaled  by  any  other  regiment  or  body  of  men  in 
the  Army  of  the  Southwest,  and  we  shall  see  that  at  a  subsequent 
period  they  maintained  the  same  splendid  character  as  fighters 
that  they  did  as  gentlemen  and  soldiers. 

Reveille  was  sounded  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  after 
a  scanty  breakfast  of  bacon  and  hard  tack  the  march  was  resumed 
down  the  valley  of  Beaver  and  Little  Piney  creeks,  which  were 
forded  thirteen  times  during  the  day.  Fifteen  miles  were  accom 
plished,  when  the  command  halted  where  former  camps  had 
existed,  from  the  debris  of  which,  boards  and  other  materials  suf 
ficient  to  keep  them  from  the  frozen  ground  while  sleeping  were 
collected,  and  by  the  light  and  warmth  of  blazing  camp-fires  they 
passed  the  night  in  comparative  comfort. 


DISPOSAL    OF   BAGGAGE   ON   THE    MARCH.  105 

The  third  and  fourth  days  out  from  Holla  the  weather  moder 
ated  somewhat,  and  frost  and  snow  gave  way  to  mud,  thin,  sticky, 
Missouri  mud,  through  which  the  men  splashed  and  plunged,  as 
jovial  as  ducks  in  a  thunder  shower,  and  with  little  anxiety  about 
avoiding  it.  The  first  plunge  settled  the  matter,  and  after  their 
feet  were  once  thoroughly  wet  they  traversed  the  road  regardless 
of  mud  for  the  rest  of  the  day,  out  of  which  they  came  looking 
more  like  statues  "  done  in  clay  "  than  human  beings.  High, 
steep  hills  were  encountered,  over  which  the  long  blue  line  of  men 
curved,  waved  and  threaded  their  slow  and  toilsome  way.  Heavier 
and  heavier  weighed  the  knapsacks  and  accoutrements,  more  and 
more  tedious  the  marching,  and  more  frequent  the  halts.  These 
halts  were  usually  for  the  adjustment  and  lightening  of  knapsacks, 
and  many  were  the  articles,  sometimes  of  intrinsic  value,  which 
strewed  the  wayside.  Packages  of  letters,  over  which  the  pos 
sessor  would  shed  a  tear  or  two,  and  then  with  many  compunc 
tions  of  conscience  cast  away ;  extra  shirts  and  half  worn-out 
apparel  marked  the  line  of  march  for  miles,  presenting  an  appear 
ance  calculated  to  awaken  an  impression  among  those  who  should 
follow  after,  that  the  army  was  fleeing  from  the  wrath  to  come, 
rather  than  wading  on  to  glory.  Thus  lightened  of  their  bur 
dens,  the  men  manifested  their  sense  of  relief  by  mirth  and  song, 
where  before  was  heard  the  growl  of  discomfort.  Anon  came 

the  voice  of  singing  : 

"  John  Brown's  body  lies  a  mouldering  in  the  grave," 

wafted  on  the  air  from  a  choir  of  marching  singers.  Thus  hour 
after  hour  they  plodded  on,  through  a  rough  and  heavily  timbered 
country,  with  scarcely  a  single  evidence  of  cultivation  until  they 
reached  the  Big  Piney. 

The  winter  storms  had  raised  this  rapidly  flowing  stream  so 
high  as  to  render  fording  difficult  and  dangerous.     A  bridge  of 


106  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

wagons  was  constructed,  over  which  the  infantry  passed  dry 
shod,  while  the  cavalry  plunged  through  the  cold,  seething  water, 
which  reached  their  horses'  bodies.  Reaching  their  bivouac  for 
the  night,  arms  were  stacked,  the  men  went  blithely  to  work  gath 
ering  boughs  and  leaves  for  a  couch,  camp  fires  were  lighted,  and 
the  evening  meal  was  in  process  of  cooking  when  the  sun  looked 
down  a  good-night  glance  at  parting ;  and  then  sleep  was  the  order 
of  the  night,  which  we  may  well  suppose  was  made  a  business  of. 

Waynesville  was  reached  on  the  17th,  and  the  regiment  encamped 
near  the  Big  Spring,  where  the  waters  of  the  Roubidoux  come 
welling  up  from  deep  cavities  in  the  rock  at  the  rate  of  many 
hundred  barrels  per  minute,  sufficient  at  least,  if  properly 
improved,  to  supply  valuable  mill  sites,  and  furnish  water  pow 
er  for  manufacturing  purposes  generally.  The  waters  are  clear, 
cold  and  limpid,  and  have  their  source  far  up  in  Texas  County, 
where,  after  being  gathered  in  a  large  stream,  finally  are  lost 
in  sink-holes  and  subterranean  caverns,  and  after  meandering 
for  miles  through  dark,  unknown  passages,  again  break  forth 
to  the  day  through  rocky  crevices,  forming  this  immense  spring. 

Here  the  command  remained  in  camp  four  days,  during  which 
time  the  men  limbered  up  their  joints,  healed  the  great  blisters 
on  their  feet,  and  in  the  meantime  grew  as  impatient  of  the  ennui 
of  resting  as  they  were  on  their  arrival  of  the  fatigue  of  marching. 

There  was  not  an  over  supply  of  army  stores  brought  along 
with  the  command,  but  the  soldiers,  by  methods  soon  acquired 
and  practised  by  all,  managed  to  supply  their  commissariat  by 
other  ways  than  the  mode  prescribed  by  the  United  States  Army 
Regulations.  In  their  perambulations  about  the  country,  chick 
ens  often  mysteriously  found  their  way  into  haversacks  ;  and 
wo  to  the  inconsiderate  sheep,  calf  or  porker  who  disported  him 
self  wi  thin  rifle  range !  Of  course,  when  discovered,  the  experienced 


MUTTON    AND    VEAL    IN    CAMP.  107 

soldier  is  never  at  a  loss  for  excuses,  some  of  which  are  as  droll  as 
they  are  impossible. 

A  private,  for  example,  is  seen  skulking  through  the  brush  on 
his  way  to  camp,  with  a  gun  on  one  shoulder  and  a  slaughtered 
sheep  on  the  other.  Being  detected  and  obliged  to  account  for 
so  unmilitary  an  accoutrement,  with  as  demure  a  countenance  as 
he  would  assume  at  the  funeral  of  a  friend,  he  protests  his  inno 
cence  of  any  intentional  wrong ;  that  he  was  compelled  to  kill 
the  sheep  in  self  defence;  that  having  had  permission  to  leave 
camp  "just  to  fill  his  canteen,"  he  was  met  by  this  pugilistic  sheep, 
who,  on  seeing  his  federal  uniform,  charged  upon  him  in  great 
fury,  and  as  one  or  the  other  had  to  die,  he  concluded  it  might 
just  as  well  be  the  sheep  ;  so  very  reluctantly  he  was  compelled 
to  shoot  it.  The  absurdity  of  his  plea  very  often  enables  him  to 
get  off  without  punishment,  and  proceeding  to  his  quarters  he 
divides  his  plunder  among  his  comrades  and  feasts  upon  delicious 
mutton  at  the  noon-day  meal  or  at  the  evening  camp-fire. 

It  was  while  encamped  at  Waynesville  that  privates  Cornell  and 
Dyer,  from  Company  E,  were  caught,  by  the  enraged  owner 
thereof,  in  the  act  of  skinning  a  fat  yearling.  The  boys  were 
quite  willing  to  pay  almost  any  price  for  the  animal  to  get  out  of 
the  predicament  in  which  they  found  themselves,  but  an  examina 
tion  of  their  pocket-books  revealed  the  unpleasant  fact  that  they 
had  only  about  half  enough  money  between  them  to  satisfy  the 
rapacious  demand  of  the  owner.  The  provost  guard  was  called, 
and  they  were  marched  with  lugubrious  countenances  and  with 
fear  and  trembling,  into  the  presence  of  the  Colonel,  to  whom 
the  enormity  of  their  offence  was  stated.  The  Colonel  appeased 
the  citizen's  wrath  by  assuring  him  that  the  pay-master  was 
expected  in  a  day  or  two,  that  when  the  boys  had  drawn  their 
pay  he  should  be  fully  recompensed  for  his  calf.  But  unfortu- 


108  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

nately  for  the  owner  of  flocks  and  herds,  the  pay-master  did  not 
arrive  when  expected  and  sudden  marching  orders  rendered  it 
impossible  to  satisfy  the  indebtedness. 

The  march  was  resumed,  the  Gasconade  crossed  as  was  the 
Big  Piney,  on  a  bridge  of  army  wagons,  and  after  a  weary  march 
over  rough,  muddy  roads,  the  command  reached  Lebanon  on  the 
24th  of  January.  The  36th  marched  directly  through  the  pleas 
antly  situated  town  and  encamped  on  the  edge  of  a  prairie  a  mile 
beyond. 

Meanwhile  troops  were  converging  from  all  points  to  Lebanon, 
and  every  day  witnessed  the  arrival  of  some  fresh  command.  Gen. 
Jeff.  C.  Davis,  with  a  division  from  Sedalia,  composed  mostly  of 
Indiana  and  Ohio  troops,  marched  by  way  of  Linn  Creek  and 
reached  Lebanon  on  the  fourth  of  February  ;  Generals  Sigel  and 
Asboth  arrived  from  Holla  with  their  divisions  on  the  6th,  leaving 
that  Post  denuded  of  troops,  except  the  13th  Illinois.  Col.  Van- 
devere  with  his  splendid  regiment,  the  9th  Iowa,  soon  after 
arrived,  raising  the  number  of  the  forces  collected  there  to  some 
fifteen  thousand  men,  enough  to  transform  the  quiet,  sleepy  town 
into  a  busy,  thriving  city. 

On  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Curtis,  the  work  of  organizing  the  army 
into  Divisions,  the  assignment  of  officers  to  the  command  of  each, 
and  the  detailing  of  subordinates  for  staff  duty,  was  proceeded  with, 
and  order  was  evoked  from  the  seeming  confusion  of  military 
commands  and  priority  of  rank.  Realizing  that  before  offensive 
operations  could  be  attempted  with  an  assurance  of  success,  every 
arm  of  the  service  should  be  made  as  efficient  as  it  were  worthy,  the 
splendid  material  of  which  the  army  was  composed  was  classified, 
the  position  and  duties  of  each  defined,  and  the  places  so  allotted 
that  the  glories  as  well  as  the  hardships  of  future  campaigns 
should  be  borne  and  shared  alike. 


ORGANIZING  INTO   DIVISIONS.  109 

The  First  Division  was  made  up  of  the  36th,  the  25th  and  44th 
Illinois,  the  3d,  12th  and  17th  Missouri,  two  battalions  of  the 
Benton  Hussars  (cavalry),  two  companies  of  the  36th  cavalry,  the 
4th 'Missouri  Cavalry,  Welfley  and  Hoffman's  Batteries,  of  six 
guns  each,  under  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  (then  Colonel) 
Osterhaus. 

The  Second  Division  was  composed  of  the  2d  and  15th  Mis 
souri  Infantry,  the  6th  and  a  batallion  of  the  4th  Missouri  Cav 
alry,  and  two  batteries  of  six  guns  each,  under  the  command  of 
Brig.  Gen.  Asboth. 

The  Third  Division,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Jeff.  C.  Davis, 
was  composed  of  the  8th,  18th  and  22d  Indiana,  the  37th  Illi 
nois  and  9th  Missouri  Infantry,  the  1st  Missouri  Cavalry,  and 
two  batteries,  one  of  four  and  another  of  six  guns. 

The  Fourth  Division,  composed  of  the  4th  and  9th  Iowa  ; 
35th  Illinois  and  25th  Missouri  Infantry  ;  the  3d  Iowa  and  3d 
Illinois  Cavalry  ;  two  batteries  of  six  guns  each  and  one  of  four 
guns — Bowen's  batallion  of  cavalry  on  escort  duty  was  also 
attached  to  this  Division — under  the  command  of  Col.  Carr. 

The  second  Brigade  of  the  first  Division  was  composed  of  the 
36th  Illinois,  the  12th  and  17th  Missouri  Infantry  and  Welfley's 
Battery,  commanded  by  Col,  Greusel,  of  the  36th. 

Gen.  Sigel  was  second  in  command,  and  the  First  and  Second 
Divisions  were  particularly  under  his  charge.  Only  a  few  of 
the  regiments  were  full ;  large  numbers  of  sick,  and  details  were 
left  at  the  various  posts  where  they  had  been  formerly  stationed 
for  garrison  duty,  and  to  guard  the  long  line  of  communication 
from  Rolla. 

We  were  now  in  such  close  proximity  to  the  enemy's  lines  that 
collisions  between,  the  cavalry  patrols  of  either  army  were  of 
frequent  occurence.  The  head  quarters  of  Gen.  Price  was  at 


110  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Springfield,  fifty-five  miles  distant,  to  which  place  bands  of 
recruits  and  detachments  of  irregular  commands  were  rallying 
in  such  force  as  to  induce  Gen.  Curtis  to  believe  that  his  inten 
tion  was  to  hold  his  position  and  offer  battle  there.  Springfield 
is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  superior  agricultural  district,  and 
by  retaining  his  position  there  during  the  fall  and  winter,  he 
had  obtained  abundant  supplies  from  the  granaries  of  the  coun 
try,  had  gained  a  good  supply  of  clothing  for  his  troops,  and 
been  re  inforced  by  five  thousand  fresh  recruits  from  various  por 
tions  of  the  State. 

After  the  organization  of  the  army  and  assignment  of  each 
regiment  and  command  to  its  own  proper  division  and  brigade, 
the  reviews  and  drills  were  frequent,  that  movements  might  be 
accomplished  with  the  least  possible  amount  of  friction  and  to 
accustom  officers  to  handle  large  bodies  of  men  to  advantage. 
The  weather  was  as  variable  as  the  capricious  temper  of  a  luna 
tic,  from  heat  to  cold,  rain  to  snow,  but  always  with  more  or  less 
mud. 

On  the  9th,  the  regiments  were  paid,  the  money  lightening 
rather  than  adding  additional  burdens,  and  imparting  a  spirit  of 
cheerfulness  calculated  to  sustain  them  through  the  trials  of  the 
coining  campaign.  All  were  ready  to  move  at  the  word  of  com 
mand,  which  came  soon  thereafter,  and  daylight  on  the  10th  of 
February  found  the  column  in  motion,  the  men  of  the  36th  leav 
ing  camp  with  a  shout  and  on  the  double  quick.  Beyond  Leb 
anon  the  country  was  less  broken,  but  previous  rains  had  saturated 
the  ground,  and  in  two  hours  the  deep  cut  roads  became  quag 
mires  through  which  artillery  arid  wagon  trains  were  with  diffi 
culty  dragged,  rendering  marching  for  the  foot  soldiers  anything 
but  the  agreeable  pastime  imagination  had  fondly  pictured.  The 
crooked  roads  of  the  country  winding  among  the  woods  and  hills 


REBELS    ENCOUNTERED   AND    DISPERSED.  Ill 

were  crowded  with  troops  and  heavily  loaded  trains,  which  in 
the  half  fluid  condition  in  which  they  were  found  necessitated 
frequent  halts.  These  halts  were  not  bona  fide  rests,  wherein  a 
soldier  could  take  his  ease  and  unsling  his  knapsack  for  a  given 
period;  but  uncertain  stoppages,  which  might  last  three  minutes 
or  half  an  hour,  and  kept  every  one  in  a  state  of  expectant 
preparation.  Still  the  consciousness  of  marching  against  the 
enemy,  who  at  any  time  might  be  encountered,  was  a  solace  for 
all  the  discomforts  of  the  march,  and,  under  the  most  adverse 
circumstances,  the  men  were  always  jolly. 

Rebel  videttes,  like  shadowy  apparitions  flitting  through  the 
woods,  were  first  seen  at  Marshfield,  but  no  opposition  was  made 
to  our  advance,  and  few  if  any  shots  were  exchanged.  Some  of 
the  German  troops  fired  the  vacant  houses  in  the  outskirts  of 
the  town,  which  were  consumed.  Stringent  orders  were  issued 
against  a  repetition  of  such  vandalism,  and  during  the  remainder 
of  the  pursuit  the  way  was  not  marked  by  the  smoke  of  burning- 
buildings  by  day  or  lighted  by  incendiary  fires  at  night. 

In  the  evening,  rebel  pickets  in  strong  force  were  encountered 
at  Pierson's  Greek,  within  ten  miles  of  Springfield,  and  a  lively 
firing  with  our  advance  maintained.  The  troops  were  drawn  up 
in  line  of  battle,  the  light  mountain  howitzers  sent  to  the  front, 
and  soon  the  gloom  of  the  twilight  hour  was  illuminated  by  the 
light  of  blazing  shells  winging  their  weird  flight  through  the  air. 
Carefully  the  line  of  infantry  advanced,  guided  through  the  som 
bre  shades  of  evening  by  the  flash  of  guns  and  the  music  of  light 
artillery ;  but  before  the  supports  could  be  brought  up  to  render 
efficient  aid,  a  brilliant  cavalry  charge  had  scattered  the  opposing 
forces  and  sent  them  in  hurried  flight  towards  Springfield,  leav 
ing  a  few  of  their  dead  and  dying  and  a  number  of  prisoners  in 
our  hands.  To  effect  the  charge  a  high  intervening  rail  fence 


112  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

was  removed  in  the  teeth  of  the  enemy's  fire,  and  then  with  a 
wild  hurrah,  after  them  went  our  boys,  through  the  fields,  accom 
panied  with  the  music  of  carbines  and  the  rattle  of  sabres,  until 
the  last  rebel  horseman  had  vanished  in  the  gathering  twilight. 

The  army  lay  upon  its  arms,  without  blankets  or  shelter  of 
any  kind,  and  shivered  the  long  night  through.  The  firing  was 
heard  at  Springfield,  and  when  the  bleeding,  panting  fugitives 
from  Pearson's  Creek  arrived,  the  enemy  was  filled  with  alarm. 
Price,  knowing  his  position  to  be  untenable,  at  9  o'clock  p.  M. 
gave  the  order  for  retreat.  He  had  remained  until  the  last 
moment,  expecting  reinforcements  from  Ben.  McCulloch's  army 
in  Arkansas,  but  not  receiving  that  support  he  abandoned  all 
hope  of  successful  resistance  and  hurriedly  fled  towards  Arkan 
sas,  leaving  Springfield  in  the  night. 

Before  daylight  of  the  13th  our  army  resumed  its  march  in 
line  of  battle,  Companies  A  and  B  of  the  86th  thrown  well  for 
ward  as  skirmishers,  the  cavalry  in  rear  of  infantry.  Batteries 
were  in  readiness,  at  the  first  note  of  conflict,  to  mingle  in  the 
fray  and  hurl  their  screaming  shells  upon  the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 
Reaching  the  prairie  the  whole  vast  line  was  deployed,  and 
moved  in  battle  array  toward  Springfield.  At  sight  of  this  the  rear 
guard  of  the  enemy  disappeared  in  the  direction  of  Wilson's 
Creek,  their  leave-taking  being  more  hurried  than  formal.  Soon 
the  stars  and  stripes  Avere  floating  in  triumph  from  the  dome  of 
the  Court  House,  no  more  to  be  taken  thence  until  the  last  armed 
foe  had  surrendered,  the  sun  of  peace  gilded  the  whole  land,  and 
lighted  the  return  of  our  armies  from  fields  of  glory. 

That  the  enemy's  departure  was  hurried  was  evidenced  by  the 
large  quantity  of  stores  and  camp  equipage  abandoned  by  them, 
and  which  fell  into  our  hands  ;  as  well  as  from  the  fact  that  over 
six  hundred  of  their  sick  were  left  in  hospital.  During  this  and 


HAZARDOUS  CAVALRY  SERVICE.  US 

the  succeeding  day,  squads  of  confederates  on  their  way  to  join 
the  command  of  Price,  and  ignorant  of  the  occupation  of  Spring 
field,  unwittingly  fell  into  our  hands  to  the  number  of  400  men, 
including  Brig.  Gen.  Edward  Price,  the  son  of  the  confederate 
commander,  and  Col.  Freeman,  the  indefatigable  partizan  who 
had  rendered  it  so  lively  for  our  scouts  and  pickets  about  Rolla 
during  the  previous  months. 

The  service  performed  by  the  cavalry  in  scouting,  escort, 
picket  and  other  duties  during  this  campaign  was  severe,  and 
at  times  extra  hazardous.  Being  almost  constantly  in  the  sad 
dle,  men  as  well  as  horses  were  pretty  much  used  up.  Particu 
larly  was  this  the  case  in  the  advance  upon  Springfield,  and  sub 
sequent  pursuit  of  the  enemy  into  Arkansas.  The  cavalry  of 
the  36th  shared  in  all  the  dangers,  hardships  and  fatigue  of  the 
campaign;  it  was  the  first  to  enter  Springfield  and  hurry  the 
exit  of  the  vanishing  rear-guard  of  Price's  undisciplined  and 
ragged  knights  of  the  shot-gun  and  chapparel.  For  a  life  of 
wild  adventure,  for  examples  of  fortitude  and  endurance  in  storm 
or  in  sunshine,  commend  us  to  the  cavalry  arm  of  military 
service. 

A  little  nocturnal  adventure  of  Sergt.  F.  0.  White,  of  Com 
pany  A,  with  a  squad  of  eight  men,  detailed  from  Companies  A 
and  B,  might  very  appropriately  be  related  here,  to  illustrate  the 
miscellaneous,  hap-hazard,  night  and  day,  duty  which  the  cavalry 
were  liable  at  any  time  to  be  called  upon  to  perform.  News  was 
wanted  at  Springfield  as  to  the  position  of  Jeff.  C.  Davis's  divis 
ion,  and  what  (if  anything)  was  going  on  in  front.  Sergt.  White 
was  selected  to  head  the  detail  in  search  of  the  desired  informa 
tion.  Though  nearly  worn  out  with  cold  and  fatigue,  the  men 
turned  out  uncomplainingly  and  faced  the  keen  northwestern 
blast.  The  moon  shone  brightly,  but  the  ground  was  white  with 


114  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

snow  and  the  night  intensely  cold.  Davis's  camp  was  off  the 
main  road  and  was  missed  by  the  Sergeant,  who  proceeded  eight 
or  nine  miles  and  came  up  with  a  detachment  of  the  3d  Illinois 
Cavalry  in  the  extreme  advance,  which  had  struck  the  enemy's 
rear,  and  after  a  lively  skirmish,  captured  a  number  of  prisoners 
and  wagons  belonging  to  the  rebel  commissary  train,  and  then 
halted  to  await  daylight  before  continuing  the  pursuit.  The 
desired  information  having  been  obtained,  Sergt.  White  returned 
to  within  a  few  miles  of  Springfield,  and, in  accordance  with  orders, 
established  a  picket  post  near  a  cabin,  where  those  oft' duty  found 
shelter  and  rest;  private  Ingham  meanwhile  being  sent  to 
Springfield  with  such  news  as  had  been  gained. 

Towards  morning  a  vidette  came  hurriedly  in  and  whispered 
that  ua  detachment  of  secesh  were  in  the  hollow  not  far  away." 
An  examination  revealed  a  body  of  twenty-five  horsemen,  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  coming  directly  towards  the  house  where  the 
squad  had  been  comfortably  quartered.  The  horses  were  quickly 
mounted  and  then  three  of  the  men  dashed  out  of  the  yard  and 
broke  for  Springfield  at  a  rate  of  speed  which  it  was  supposed 
their  nearly  fagged  out  steeds  could  never  attain,  followed  by  a 
scattered  volley  from  the  now  fast  approaching  squadron.  Escape 
being  impracticable,  Sergt.  White  formed  the  remainder  of  his 
squad  for  battle,  determined,  that  if  necessary,  a  fight  should  pre 
cede  a  foot-race.  The  squadron  proved  to  be  federal  troopers, 
instead  of  mounted  "graybacks,"  and  those  who  were  in  chase 
of  the  three  flying  36th  boys  were,  after  considerable  exertion, 
recalled.  One,  a  Dutchman,  strongly  insisted  upon  following 
up  the  adventure  to  the  point  of  blood-letting,  saying :  "  Vhy 
dhey  no  sthops  ven  I  say  hollit  ?"  The  detachment  was  from 
the  3d  Illinois  Cavalry ;  one  of  their  number  had  been  shot  while 
on  picket,  and  these  were  looking  for  the  assassins,  but  in  their 


ON  THE  MARCH  IN  EARNEST.  115 

search  came  near  massacring  the  squad  from  the  36th.  A  hard 
ride  was  necessary  to  reach  Springfield  in  time  to  prevent  the 
three  fugitives  from  spreading  a  needless  alarm  through  the 
camp. 

No  halt,  except  for  a  night  encampment,  was  made  at 
Springfield,  and  on  the  14th  the  pursuit  of  Price  com 
menced.  Colonel  Carr,  with  the  cavalry,  supported  by  a 
section  of  light  howitzers  packed  upon  the  backs  of  mules, 
which  when  wanted  could  be  taken  from  the  pack-saddles  and 
placed  in  battery  as  readily  and  in  as  short  a  period  of  time  as 
an  ordinary  field  battery  could  be  unlimbered  and  set  to  work, 
followed  down  the  telegraph  road  directly  in  the  enemy's  rear; 
while  the  Second  Brigade,  including  the  36th  Illinois,  together 
with  the  Divisions  of  Osterhaus  and  Asboth,  under  the  command 
of  Gen.  Sigel,  took  the  right  hand  road  over  a  rolling  prairie 
country  via  Little  York.  The  direct  road  to  Fayetteville,  over 
which  the  main  command  advanced,  led  through  a  more  broken 
and  timbered  region. 

Slowly  and  cautiously  the  column  pressed  its  way,  expecting 
at  any  moment  to  encounter  the  enemy  occupying  in  force  some 
strong  position,  and  prepared  to  dispute  our  further  progress. 
But  no  hostile  force  was  seen,  only  stragglers  and  recruits  com 
ing  in  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  now  rapidly  flying  foe,  many  of 
whom  fell  into  our  hands,  and  were  passed  under  guard  to  the 
rear.  It  became  evident  that  Price  would  no  longer  dispute  our 
progress  by  making  a  stand  in  force  for  battle.  The  pursuit  on 
the  16th  was  rapid,  the  infantry  marching  thirty  miles  and  over 
taking  the  enemy's  rear  at  Crane  Creek,  where,  in  considerable 
numbers,  they  endeavored  to  delay  our  advance  and  gain  time 
for  their  main  force  to  get  away. 


116  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

It  had  been  Gen.  Curtis'  design  not  to  press  the  enemy  too 
closely  and  hurry  his  flight,  but  to  enable  Sigel  to  pass  his  right, 
and  gaining  the  front  to  cut  oft'  further  retreat  southward.  But 
Col.  Ellis,  who  led  the  advance  with  cavalry,  either  mistaking, 
or  ignorant  of  the  plans  of  his  commander,  commenced  a  spirited 
engagement.  The  howitzers  were  unpacked  and  mounted,  and 
shot  after  shot  plunged  into  the  rebel  rear,  creating  considerable 
disorder ;  seeing  which  Col.  Ellis  ordered  a  charge,  and  the 
wavering  rebels  were  sent  whirling  in  rapid  retreat  towards  Cass- 
ville.  About  a  dozen  were  killed  and  large  numbers  of  prison 
ers  taken. 

The  want  of  forethought  and  the  inordinate  haste  of  Col. 
Ellis  quickened  the  enemy's  march,  and  thwarted  Sigel  in  his 
design  of  getting  past  and  cutting  off  Price's  retreat.  From 
thence  the  road  over  which  they  passed  was  strewn  with  arms, 
clothing,  accoutrements  and  broken  down  wagons,  which,  in  the 
hurry  and  confusion,  were  cast  away  to  facilitate  escape.  The 
36th,  with  the  division  to  which  it  was  attached,  marched  thirty 
miles  that  day,  testing  to  the  utmost  the  endurance  of  the  men, 
whose  spirits  were  buoyed  up  by  the  inspiring  boom  of  howitzers 
firing  into  the  enemy's  rear  and  hurrying  their  precipitate 
retreat. 

At  Flat  Creek  the  cavalry  and  howitzers  again  bore  down 
heavily  upon  the  retreating  column.  A  few  loud  words  in  the 
form  of  cannon  shot  were  exchanged  between  the  contending 
parties  in  this  interesting  foot  race,  and  again  the  enemy  broke 
and  fled  before  the  impetuous  charges  of  the  federal  cavalry. 
Then  the  swelling  tide  of  war  continued  to  roll  down  the  valley 
of  Flat  Creek,  through  the  towns  of  Cassville  and  Keitsville, 
into  and  through  the  narrow  gorge  of  Cross  Timbers  Hollow,  out 
of  Missouri  into  Arkansas,  a  continuous  stream  of  men  and 


IN    PURSUIT    OF    PRICE.  117 

horses,  of  pursuers  and  pursued,  the  advance  of  the  one  min 
gling  with  the  rear  of  the  other  in  fierce  and  maddening  conflict. 
The  long  line  of  pursuers,  heralded  by  the  music  of  cannon  and 
carbine  in  exultant  triumph,  while  broken  down  wagons,  worn 
out  horses,  saddles,  arms,  with  now  and  then  the  pale  faces  of 
the  dead,  marked  the  line  of  confederate  retreat.  Thus  onward 
surged  the  battle,  met  by  a  counter  current  of  prisoners  sent  to 
the  rear.  These,  worn  out  and  dejected,  contrasted  strangely 
with  our  victorious  troops,  with  flashing  eyes  and  countenances 
expressive  of  the  enthusiasm  which  animated  them. 

While  on  the  march  in  pursuit  of  Price  down  the  "  Telegraph 
road,"  the  main  column  passed  through  the  little  town  of  Cass- 
ville.  Some  of  the  passing  throng  broke  into  a  drug  store  and 
appropriated  such  of  its  contents  as  their  needs  or  inclinations 
suggested.  One  of  the  Sergeants  of  Company  A  Cavalry,  dis 
covered  a  package  of  white  powder,  which  he  conceived  to  be 
saleratus,  and  at  once  confiscated  it  for  the  use  of  the  Sergeant's 
mess.  Not  being  quite  sure  of  the  chemical  properties  of  his 
plunder,  he  submitted  the  stuff  to  comrade  Judd — who  had  at 
one  time  officiated  as  a  druggist's  clerk — for  his  opinion.  Judd 
pronounced  it  "saleratus,  and  no  mistake."  That  night  the 
cavalry  companies  encamped  on  a  hill  near  Sugar  Creek,  and 
though  tired,  were  jubilant  over  the  prospect  of  raised  cakes 
for  supper,  in  place  of  the  usual  cold  water  "  slap  jacks."  The 
fires  were  soon  fiercely  blazing,  the  cakes  mixed,  and  a  liberal 
quantity  of  "saleratus"  sprinkled  in. 

It  was  fun  to  cook  pan-cakes  in  the  army  :  A  little  flour,  salt 
and  water,  a  good  fire,  a  long  handled  skillet,  a  little  grease,  and 
one  is  ready  for  business.  Warm  the  pan,  pour  in  the  grease, 
douse  in  the  dough,  let  it  sizzle  a  while,  then  give  it  a  shake,  a 


118  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

twitch  and  a  flop,  and  over  it  goes,  just  as  easy  as  falling  off  a 
log — if  one  only  knows  how. 

On  this  occasion  the  cakes  were  soon  cooked,  and  the  large- 
hearted,  generous  Sergeants  of  Company  A  cheerfully  shared 
their  good  fortune  with  Lieuts.  Sherer,  Ferre  and  Reynolds,  who 
composed  the  officers'  mess.  That  was  a  delightful  repast, 
heartily  eaten  and  praised  by  nearly  all.  One  or  two  of  the 
boys,  however,  remarked  the  cakes  did  not  appear  much  lighter 
than  those  made  without  saleratus.  Supper  over,  the  men  com 
posing  the  mess  stood  around  the  camp  fire  talking  over  the 
events  of  the  day  and  prospects  of  the  morrow,  satisfied  with 
their  surroundings,  and  even  jolly.  In  a  few  moments  there  was 
a  lull  in  the  conversation,  the  boys  were  less  blithesome  and 
more  uncomfortable  than  usual;  a  deathly  pallor  was  observed  in 
the  faces  of  some,  which  but  a  moment  before  were  wreathed  in 
smiles.  Sergeant  Snow  was  seen  retreating  into  the  woods,  and 
Sergeant  White  stole  silently  away  in  another  direction,  followed 
soon  after  by  Collins,  Dynan.  Sherer  and  the  balance,  and  such 
another  entertainment,  consisting  entirely  of  vomiting,  was  sel 
dom  ever  gotten  up  on  short  notice.  Oh,  the  k'hee-ups"  and 
"hoo-ups,"  the  tears  and  groans  of  that  sick  crowd  will  very 
likely  never  be  forgotten.  It  was  the  event  of  the  campaign  in 
the  line  of  gastronomic  achievements.  It  was  good  bye  to  sup 
per  and  to  much  of  the  inner  mechanism  of  the  mortal  corpor- 
osity.  After  a  time  u  the  show,"  like  all  things  else,  had  an 
end,  and  when  the  performers  were  restored  to  their  usual  equa 
nimity,  the  question  was  anxiously  asked,  "  What  made  those 
cakes  rise  at  that  particular  time?  and  what  made  them  rise  so 
high  ?  Could  it  be  the  saleratus  ?  and  if  so,  why  ?"  A  quantity 
of  the  material  was  taken  to  Surgeon  Young  for  examination, 
who  kindly  informed  the  boys  they  had  been  raising  their  cakes 


FIGHT    AT    SUGAR    CREEK.  119 

with  tartar  emetic!     Ever  after  Sergt.  Judd  was  known  in  his 
Company  as,  "The  Apothecary." 

On  the  17th  our  advance  reached  Sugar  Creek  and  found  the 
enemy  in  a  strong  position  and  in  battle  array  crowning  the 
bluffs  on  the  south  side  of  the  valley.  Price,  being  strengthened 
by  reinforcements  from  Ben.  McCulloch's  army,  determined  to 
make  a  stand  here,  and  endeavor  to  stem  the  tide  which  had 
swept  him  on  its  tumultuous  waves  out  of  Missouri.  When, 
therefore,  late  in  the  afternoon,  the  head  of  the  pursuing  column 
struck  his  rear-guard,  instead  of  a  promiscuous  throng  of  terror 
stricken  fugitives,  they  found  a  well  appointed  army  in  battle 
array,  supported  by  batteries  of  artillery,  with  solid  ranks  in 
readiness  to  give  a  warm  reception  to  any  who  should  venture 
across  the  valley  with  hostile  intent.  Batteries  were  brought  up, 
and  from  favorable  positions  on  the  northern  hills  opened  upon 
the  opposing  force  with  shell,  which  went  wailing  over  the  valley 
into  the  thickening  ranks  which  blocked  the  way,  prepared  to 
dispute  our  further  progress.  For  an  hour  brisk  cannonading 
was  maintained  and  as  fiercely  returned  ;  shot  answering  shot, 
with  no  signs  of  break  or  waver  in  the  opposing  ranks.  A 
charge  was  finally  ordered,  and  Col.  Ellis,  with  detachments 
from  the  Missouri  cavalry  regiments  and  from  the  Third  Illinois, 
dashed  across  the  creek  and  up  the  opposite  slopes  in  the  face  of 
a  rattling  fire  of  musketry,  charging  right  into  the  midst  of  their 
thronging  ranks.  Had  a  meteor  fallen  among  them  they  could 
not  have  been  more  thoroughly  stai  tied.  Still  they  fought  bravely, 
contesting  the  ground  inch  by  inch,  teaching  their  fierce  assail 
ants  that  there  were  blows  to  give  as  well  as  to  receive.  Saddles 
were  emptied,  and  the  dead  and  wounded  of  both  assailants  and 
assailed  lay  commingled  and  scattered  over  the  blood  besprinkled 
field.  But  there  was  no  resisting  the  impetuous  charges  of  our 


120  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

gallant  troopers  when  once  their  blood  was  up,  and  with  carbine 
and  sabre  they  dealt  destruction  to  the  now  demoralized  and  dis 
heartened  foe.  Their  ranks  were  broken,  their  artillery  in  dan 
ger  of  being  captured,  when  they  hurriedly  left  the  field  in  a  wild, 
tumultuous  scamper  for  Cross  Hollow,  twelve  miles  away,  where 
McCulloch,  with  fresh  troops,  prepared  for  a  renewal  of  the 
conflict.  Our  losses  in  this  engagement  were  fourteen  men 
killed,  nine  wounded,  and  forty-six  horses.  Among  the  wounded 
were  Major  Bo  wen,  Major  McKinney,  of  Gen.  Curtis'  staff,  and 
Captain  Switzler,  while  fifty-three  confederate  dead  or  mortally 
wounded  were  left  upon  the  field. 

These  rapid  movements  had  left  the  infantry  far  in  the  rear, 
and  this  engagement,  amounting  to  little  more  than  a  lively  skir 
mish,  was  participated  in  only  by  the  cavalry  and  light  howitzer 
battery.  The  cannonading  was,  however,  heard  distinctly,  and 
for  a  time  diverted  the  attention  of  the  infantry  from  their  weary, 
aching  limbs  and  added  a  fresh  glow  to  their  animated  counte 
nances.  Nothing  but  the  excitement  and  expectancy  of  battle 
could  sustain  them  in  this  hurried  and  fatiguing  march.  The 
roar  of  cannon  to  the  front  would  at  any  time  arouse  their  droop 
ing  spirits  and  quicken  their  lagging  pace,  as  they  pressed  for 
ward  to  the  combat  momentarily  expected  and  eagerly  hoped  for. 

In  this  long,  fatiguing  race  through  Missouri,  the  baggage  arid 
provision  trains  were  left  far  in  the  rear,  and  with  starvation 
now  menacing  his  exhausted  command,  Gen.  Curtis  found  him 
self  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  discontinuing  the  pursuit. 
Accordingly  Davis'  Division  went  into  camp  at  Sugar  Creek, 
while  the  Division  of  Carr  proceeded  to  Cross  Hollow.  The 
long,  slender  line  of  communication  with  Holla,  liable  at  any 
time  to  be  broken,  necessitated  heavy  details  for  its  protection. 
At  frequent  intervals  stations  were  established  and  garrisons 


SUBSISTING   ON   THE    COUNTRY.  121 

left  to  hold  and  occupy  the  country.  Supplies  being  nearly 
exhausted,  subsisting  off  the  country  became  a  matter  of  nec 
essity,  which  in  a  thinly  populated  region  rendered  this  a  rather 
doubtful  resource.  Foraging  expeditions  rapidly  gathered  the 
grain  stored  in  the  granaries ;  mills  were  set  to  grinding  it.  A 
wide  range  of  country  was  occupied,  extending  from  the  War 
Eagle  Mills  on  White  River  west  to  beyond  Bentonville,  pre 
senting  a  front  of  sixty  miles  in  extent,  which,  unless  sufficient 
previous  notice  was  given  to  afford  time  for  rapid  concentration, 
was  liable  at  any  time  to  be  penetrated  and  broken. 

Our  cavalry  advanced  to  Fayetteville,  arid  found  the  town  a 
mass  of  smoking  ruins — burned  by  the  orders  of  Ben.  McCul- 
loch,  one  of  the  confederate  generals.  Fayetteville  had  been  the 
last  stronghold  of  the  opponents  of  secession  in  Arkansas. 
When  South  Carolina  seceded,  the  act  was  nowhere  more  severely 
reprobated  than  in  north-western  Arkansas.  From  first  to  last 
a  majority  of  the  citizens  had  steadily  and  persistently  opposed 
secession.  Their  opposition  to  the  insane  measures  of  Southern 
leaders  was  so  pronounced  as  to  excite  McCulloch's  fiercest  indig 
nation,  and  on  his  way  northward  to  re-inforce  Price,  he  declared 
that,  should  he  be  compelled  to  return,  he  would  burn  as  he 
went.  He  kept  faith  with  his  threat.  After  their  discomfiture 
at  Sugar  Creek,  and  as  the  whole  confederate  army  was  retreat 
ing  precipitately  through  the  town  to  the  Boston  Mountains,  the 
Arkansas  College,  the  Fayetteville  Female  Seminary,  a  large 
steam  flouring  mill,  four  brick  warehouses,  the  Court  House  and 
numerous  private  residences,  were  fired  and  sacrificed  to  his  rage. 
North-western  Arkansas  will  long  remember  the  irascible  Texan, 
not  for  the  brilliancy  of  his  genius,  but  for  the  brightness  of  his 
fires. 

Gen.  Curtis,  with  Carr's   Division,   established  his  headquar 
ters  at  Cross  Hollow  on  the  22nd,  within  eighteen  miles  of  Fay- 


122  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

etteville,  from  which  position  he  watched  his  rapidly  accumulat 
ing  enemy,  prepared  to  strike  such  blows  as  opportunities  might 
offer  or  circumstances  justify.  This  position  in  itself  was  natur 
ally  strong,  and  offered  peculiar  facilities  for  defence  against  a 
direct  attack ;  but  it  could  be  easily  turned,  and  in  such  case 
would  be  practically  worthless. 

Jeff.  C.  Davis  remained  at  Sugar  Creek  in  charge  of  the 
remaining  stores  and  army  transportation.  To  that  point  the 
trains  came  with  such  stores  as  could  be  hauled  over  the  long 
road  from  Rolla.  Col.  Vandevere,  with  the  9th  Iowa  and  a 
detachment  of  cavalry,  proceeded  to  the  War  Eagle  Mills,  situ 
ated  on  White  River,  forty -two  miles  east  of  Sugar  Creek.  These 
mills  were  run  night  and  day  in  the  manufacture  of  flour  for  the 
use  of  the  army. 

Sigel,  with  the  Divisions  of  Asboth  and  Osterhaus,  encamped 
first  at  Osage  Springs,  near  Cross  Hollow,  and  subsequently  at 
McKissock's  farm,  four  miles  west  of  Bentonville,  subsistence  in 
a  great  measure  being  obtained  from  the  granaries  and  corn  cribs 
found  in  the  country. 

While  the  troops  were  thus  eking  out  a  precarious  existence, 
"  living  off  the  country  "  on  scanty  gleanings  from  fields  where 
Price  and  McCulloch  had  previously  reaped  an  ample  harvest,  an 
important  seizure  of  confederate  flour  and  salt  was  effected  by 
Corporal  Bennett,  of  Company  E  of  the  36th,  at  Neutonia,  in 
Missouri.  He  had  been  on  duty  in  the  topographical  o-ffice  at 
Department  Headquarters,  and  was  not  relieved  and  allowed  to 
proceed  to  the  regiment  until  it  was  far  on  its  way  to  Arkansas. 
Hastening  through  Missouri  to  join  his  command,  he  was 
requested  by  Lieut.  Col.  Holland,  commanding  the  post  at  Cass- 
ville,  to  lead  a  party  to  Neutonia  to  capture  stores,  which  Price, 
in  his  inordinate  haste,  had  allowed  to  remain  under  the  watch 
ful  surveillance  of  sympathizing  citizens.  Detachments  from  the 


CAPTURE  OF  FLOUR  AND  SALT.  123 

garrison  at  Cassville  were  scattered  over  the  country  guarding 
mills  and  points  which  were  of  interest  to  hold,  until  there  was 
not  a  commissioned  officer  or  a  dozen  men  remaining  for  duty  at 
the  post,  and  no  one  whatever  with  whom  he  could  entrust  such 
an  undertaking. 

Private  Edwards,  of  Company  D,  also  on  his  way  to  join  the  com 
mand,  was  induced  to  accompany  the  expedition,  which,  with  a 
squad  of  a  dozen  "Home  Guards,"  constituted  the  escort  for  the 
train  of  ten  wagons,  which  reached  Neutonia  in  one  day  from 
Cassville,  a  distance  of  forty  miles.  These  wagons  with  eleven 
others  pressed  from  citizens,  were  loaded  with  flour  and  salt, 
amounting  to  more  than  thirty  tons,  and  in  two  days  thereafter 
the  whole  was  brought  in  safety  to  Cassville.  This  helped  mate 
rially  to  relieve  the  pressing  needs  of  the  army. 

It  now  became  apparent  that  the  rumors  which  for  some  days 
had  been  afloat  in  the  air,  that  we  were  environed  with  swarms 
of  mounted  confederates,  who  secretly  ranged  the  country  to  pick 
up  stragglers,  attack  unsupported  detachments  and  watch  the 
movements  of  the  federal  army,  were  strictly  true. 

A  mounted  Texan  regiment,  eluding  the  vigilance  of  patrols, 
gained  the  rear  of  our  army,  and  on  the  night  of  the  25th  of 
February  attacked  the  post  at  Keitsville,  which  was  garrisoned 
by  a  squadron  of  the  1st  Missouri  Cavalry  under  the  command 
of  Capt.  Montgomery.  It  was  a  complete  surprise.  But  one  or 
two  pickets  were  out,  and  they  were  stationed  at  points  too  far 
distant  to  give  the  alarm.  The  first  intimation  of  the  presence 
of  a  hostile  force  in  their  midst,  was  the  loud  report  of  musketry 
and  the  crash  of  balls,  as  volley  after  volley  was  poured  into  the 
buildings  among  the  sleeping  men.  A  half  dozen  were  killed 
and  a  number  wounded  at  the  first  discharge.  The  men,  thus 
suddenly  aroused  from  their  slumbers,  hastily  seized  their  arms, 


124  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and,  without  waiting  to  clothe  themselves,  returned  the  enemy's 
fire.  The  night  was  dark,  and  the  position  of  the  contending 
parties  could  be  determined  only  by  the  flash  of  fire  arms. 
Montgomery,  finding  the  avenues  of  escape  cut  off,  fought  bravely 
and  with  telling  effect,  and  a  number  of  the  Texans  were  made 
to  bite  the  dust.  The  first  panic  over,  the  troopers,  from  sheltered 
positions  within  the  buildings,  saluted  the  enemy  with  so  galling 
a  fire  that  they  finally  withdrew,  taking  with  them  seventy  of 
Montgomery's  horses. 

His  command  was  badly  demoralized,  and  as  soon  as  the  enemy 
departed  and  the  way  was  clear,  those  who  had  horses  hastily 
mounted  them  and  made  all  speed  for  safer  quarters  ;  others, 
trusting  to  the  agility  of  the  natural  man,  made  their  way  on 
foot.  All  night  long  the  panting  fugitives  came  trooping  into 
Cassville,  singly  or  by  twos,  without  hats  or  coats  and  many 
without  shoes.  A  commissary  train  on  its  way  to  Sugar  Creek 
was  encamped  for  the  night  within  a  mile  of  Keitsville.  They 
were  aroused  by  the  heavy  discharges  of  musketry,  and  hastily 
harnessing  their  teams  to  the  wagons,  went  thundering  over  the 
rocky  road  to  Cassville. 

Couriers  and  squads  of  troops  passing  to  and  from  the  differ 
ent  posts  were  often  waylaid  and  fired  upon  from  the  brush.  The 
whole  country  in  the  rear  of  the  federal  army  was  filled  with 
roving  bands  of  reckless  men,  so  that  communication  with  those 
places  occupied  by  troops  was  what  insurance  brokers  would  deem 
"extra  hazardous." 

An  artillery  man  was  captured  by  Texan  Rangers  in  the  imme 
diate  vicinity  of  a  picket  station,  and  almost  within  the  confines 
of  camp.  No  patrol  or  movement  of  troops  could  be  made  with 
out  coming  in  sight  of,  and  sometimes  in  contact  with,  these  roving 
knights  of  the  shot  gun,  dressed  in  a  garb  that  vied  with  the  soil 


RETRIBUTION    AT    BENTONVILLE.  125 

in  color.  The  business  of  dispersing  these  well  nigh  ubiquitous 
denizens  of  the  woods  mainly  devolved  upon  the  cavalry,  but 
from  their  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  country  they  seldom  met 
with  success. 

Prior  to  these  events,  a  portion  of  the  town  of  Bentonville, 
the  county  seat  of  Benton  County,  Arkansas,  was  burned  by  a 
detachment  of  the  Benton  Hussars.  The  town  had  frequently 
been  visited  by  troops,  both  of  cavalry  and  infantry,  and  a  part 
of  the  time  occupied  as  a  post.  Apparently  a  kindly  feeling- 
existed  between  the  citizens  and  soldiers,  and  intercourse  between 
them  was  uninterrupted.  Their  property  was  protected  from 
injury,  their  persons  from  violence  and  insult,  and  nothing  for 
some  time  occurred  that  betrayed  the  duplicity  of  the  people. 
On  this  occasion  liquor  was  set  out,  of  which  the  Huzzars  drank 
rather  freely,  but  no  disturbance  resulted  or  other  incident  to  mar 
the  convivial  occasion,  or  to  reveal  the  intense  hatred  of  the  citi 
zens  toward  their  "federal  invaders."  Soon  after  mounting 
their  horses  and  departing  for  camp,  one  of  their  number  was 
seized  with  a  sudden  spasm  of  thirstiness  which  could  not  be 
appeased  without  liquor,  and  he  announced  his  intention  of  return 
ing  for  another  drink.  His  comrades  could  not  dissuade  him 
from  his  purpose,  and  he  left  them  with  the  intention  of  soon 
returning,  but  this  was  the  last  they  ever  saw  of  him  alive.  Not 
rejoining  them  when  expected,  the  detachment  returned  to  town, 
but  could  learn  nothing  of  the  whereabouts  of  their  associate. 
A  search  was  instituted,  and  after  some  time  his  mutilated  remains 
were  found  in  a  vault,  his  skull  cleft  with  a  blow  from  an  axe 
which  had  been  buried  in  his  quivering  brain.  Just  enough 
liquor  had  been  drank  to  arouse  all  the  vengeful  feelings  within 
the  breasts  of  the  Huzzars.  The  proprietor  of  the  drinking 
establishment  was  shot,  his  building  fired,  and  the  torch  applied 


126  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

to  a  number  of  the  business  houses  in  the  heart  of  the  town, 
which,  together  with  their  contents,  were  consumed.  A  swift 
and  terrible  retribution  for  an  outrage  as  unprovoked  as  it  was 
criminal.  But  such  is  war — a  kaleidoscope  of  horrors,  of  brutal 
atrocities  and  fiendish  barbarities. 

A  rumor,  with  sufficient  foundation  for  belief  in  its  truth,  was 
'  afloat  through  the  camps,  to  the  effect  that  a  large  confederate 
force  was  passing  up  into  Missouri  by  the  "line  road,"  which  ran 
along  the  borders  of  Arkansas  and  the  Indian  Territory,  with  a 
view  to  cutting  oif  our  communications  with  Springfield  and 
Rolla.  To  ascertain  its  truth,  as  well  as  to  menace  and  skirmish 
with  any  such  force,  Major  Conrad,  of  the  3rd  Missouri  Cav 
alry,  was  placed  in  command  of  an  expedition  of  five  hundred 
men,  including  six  companies  of  infantry,  a  squadron  of  cavalry, 
and  two  guns  from'Welfley's  battery,  with  orders  to  reconnoitre 
the  country,  arid  if  an  enemy  was  encountered,  to  ascertain  their 
strength  and  intentions  and  report  the  result  of  his  observations 
as  soon  as  practicable.  Among  the  infantry  detailed  with  this 
expedition  was  Company  F  of  the  36th.  The  command  left  the 
camp  near  Bentonville  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  March. 
The  adventures,  long  marches  and  hair-breadth  escapes  of  this 
detachment  will  hereafter  be  fully  related. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

BENTONVILLE. 

RICE  continued  his  retreat  to  the  Boston  Moun 
tains,  occupying  a  strong  position  fifteen  miles 
south  of  Fayetteville,  where,  being  joined  and 
strengthened  by  the  army  of  Ben.  McCulloch, 
composed  of  Texans,  Louisianans  and  Arkansans, 
he  awaited  the  approach  and  invited  the  attack 
of  Curtis.  For  some  days  it  was  known  that  the  enemy  was 
concentrating  a  large  force  in  these  mountain  fastnesses,  prepar 
atory  to  swooping  down  upon  the  handful  of  federals  menacing 
them,  and  with  one  fell  blow  terminate  the  campaign  and  decide 
the  fate  of  Missouri  and  the  South-west.  A  force  of  two  thou 
sand  Indians  from  the  scattered  tribes  inhabiting  the  territory 
west  of  Arkansas,  composed  principally  of  Creeks,  Cherokees 
and  Chocktaws,  commanded  by  Albert  Pike — who,  as  a  reward 
for  his  labors  in  attaching  the  Indians  to  the  Confederate  cause, 
was  commissioned  a  Brigadier  General — -joined  the  forces  of  Price 
and  McCulloch,  and  were  by  them  armed  and  became  a  part  of 
the  army,  which  was  now  in  numbers  assuming  formidable  pro 
portions.  Both  Price  and  McCulloch  held  separate  commands, 
and  generally,  unless  occasion  required  their  combined  action, 


128  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

were  independent  of  each  other.  A  bitter  feud  had  for  some 
time  existed  between  them,  and  to  such  an  extent  were  these 
personal  differences  indulged,  that  the  Confederate  authorities  were 
apprehensive  that  individual  enmities  might  be  carried  so  far  as 
to  imperil  the  bright  prospects  of  success  which  they  confidently 
believed  were  now  about  to  be  realized. 

To  guard  against  misunderstandings  which  were  at  any  time 
liable  to  break  out  between  these  two  commanders,  Gen.  Earl 
Van  Dorn  was  designated  as  Commander-in-Chief,  and  immedi 
ately  proceeded  to  the  camp  in  the  Boston  Mountains  and  assumed 
control  of  the  forces  gathered  there.  Several  fresh  batallions 
from  the  East  came  with  this  commander,  which  raised  the  num 
ber  of  the  Confederate  forces  to  about  twenty-five  thousand  men. 
Van  Dorn  arrived  at  the  camp  March  2nd,  and  on  the  4th  his 
columns  were  in  motion. 

Gen.  Curtis  was  apprised  of  this  change  of  commanders,  and 
well  aware  that  he  had  nothing  to  hope  from  any  differences  which 
might  arise  from  diversity  of  opinions  among  officers,  and  that  stub 
born  fighting  would  alone  decide  the  issues  between  the  opposing 
forces.  The  Confederate  advance  was  so  rapid  through  a  broken, 
mountainous  and  sparsely  settled  country,  well  calculated  to  con 
ceal  their  movements,  as  nearly  to  surprise  the  federal  com 
mander,  and  required  the  utmost  dispatch  to  concentrate  our 
widely  scattered  forces.  On  the  5th  a  foraging  party  was  driven 
back  in  hot  haste,  with  loss  of  wagons  and  horses,  simultaneous 
with  the  arrival  of  a  trusty  scout,  who  reported  the  near  approach 
of  the  enemy  in  force,  and  that  his  advance  guard  was  even  then 
menacing  our  outlying  pickets.  An  express  was  sent  to  Col. 
Vandevere  at  the  War  Eagle  Mills,  near  White  River,  to  march 
his  detachment  of  nine  hundred  men  at  once  to  Sugar  Creek. 
The  march  of  forty-two  miles  was  accomplished  in  fifteen  hours, 
arriving  in  time  to.  participate  in  the  battlo  of  the  7th. 


A    MIDNIGHT    START.  129 

Sigel's  Division  was  fourteen  miles  away  in  camp  near  Benton- 
ville,  and  to  him  also  the  nearness  of  the  enemy  was  made  known 
by  the  timely  arrival  of  scouts,  as  well  as  a  dispatch  and  orders 
from  Cross  Hollow,  directing  him  to  march  at  once  for  Sugar 
Creek.  This  dispatch  was  brought  by  the  hands  of  George 
B.  Raymond,  a  private  in  Company  D  of  the  36th  Illinois,  who 
at  that  time  was  acting  Orderly  for  Gen.  Curtis.  It  was  known 
that  nearly  every  road  and  by-path  was  picketed  by  confederates 
thrown  out  from  their  advance,  and  that  such  a  trip  was  attended 
with  danger  and  difficulty,  requiring  presence  of  mind  and  nerve 
to  accomplish  successfully.  A  citizen,  on  whose  fidelity  the  Gen 
eral  could  rely,  and  who  knew  the  country  perfectly,  was  sent 
with  Raymond.  They  set  out  in  the  darkness,  threading  their 
way  through  the  long  forest  aisles,  frequently  within  sight  of  the 
enemy's  camp  fires,  and  were  rapidly  approaching  Sigel's  camp 
where  they  were  first  hailed  and  then  fired  upon  by  a  rebel  picket, 
when  the  guide  fell,  shot  dead,  from  his  horse.  Raymond  dashed 
into  the  adjoining  thicket,  and  making  a  wide  detour,  reached 
camp  and  delivered  his  message.  Orders  were  issued  at  once  to 
the  various  regiments  and  commands  to  prepare  at  midnight,  to 
march  at  two  o'clock  A.  M.  The  men,  who  had  quite  generally 
retired  to  rest,  could  not  conjecture  the  cause  for  so  untimely  a 
movement.  Some  supposed  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  accustom 
ing  them  to  sudden  emergencies  and  night  marching ;  while  oth 
ers,  with  an  air  of  mystery,  remarked,  "there's  something  up," 
but  what  that  something  was,  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army  had 
no  means  of  knowing.  It  was  not  their  province  to  ask  ques 
tions,  but  to  obey  orders. 

The  sharp  notes  of  a  bugle  sounding  clear  and  shrill  upon  the 
midnight  air  proclaimed  the  hour,  and  soon  the  various  camps 
were  instinct  with  life  and  busy  with  preparations  for  moving. 


130  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Tents  were  struck  and  stowed  away  in  the  baggage  wagons. 
Men  gathered  around  the  camp  fires  to  cook  a  scanty  breakfast 
or  brew  their  cup  of  coifee,  all  of  which  in  due  time  was  drank 
or  eaten,  fulfilling  its  inevitable  destiny  of  fortifying  the  inner 
man  against  the  chilling  blasts  which  came  sweeping  in  gusts 
through  the  camp  and  sighing  a  mournful  requiem  among  the 
leafless  forest  trees. 

The  36th  was  ready  to  march  at  the  prescribed  hour  of  two, 
but  the  narrow  roads  were  cumbered  with  artillery  and  army 
wagons,  each  in  the  way  of  the  other,  and  mingled  in  what 
appeared  hopeless  and  inextricable  confusion.  The  column  was 
finally  formed  and  for  an  hour  vainly  essayed  to  march,  at  the 
end  of  which  period  the  rear  companies  were  yet  within  the  con 
fines  of  the  camp  we  were  vainly  endeavoring  to  leave.  The 
night  was  intensely  dark.  The  wind  increased  to  a  gale,  bring 
ing  on  its  wings  icy  snowflakes,  which  pierced  and  chilled  the 
men  to  the  bone.  Then  came  an  order  to  break  ranks  and  wait 
for  the  appearance  of  daylight,  which  order  was  obeyed  with 
alarcity,  and  soon  great  piles  of  rails  and  logs  were  fiercely  blaz 
ing,  while  around  each  pyramid  of  flame  the  benumbed  and  shiv 
ering  men  gathered  with  their  blankets  wrapped  around  them, 
and  speculated  as  to  the  reason  for  so  unwonted  and  at  the  pres 
ent  time  seemingly  so  unreasonable  a  movement. 

At  length  the  opaline  tints  of  morning  began  to  tinge  the  east 
ern  sky.  Then  we  were  up,  and  after  many  a  vexatious  halt, 
were  away  for  good,  the  column  headed  to  the  north  and  east, 
and  after  it  was  once  fully  drawn  out  we  proceeded  without  fur 
ther  hinderance.  The  sun  was  just  peeping  over  the  horizon  as 
we  passed  through  the  half  ruined  town  of  Bentonville.  Away 
across  the  prairie,  to  our  right  and  south  of  town,  a  mile  or  more 
away,  dense  masses  of  men  were  observed  in  motion,  but  the 


MISFORTUNE   TO   COMPANY   B.  1B1 

haze  of  the  early  morning  so  shrouded  them  in  its  misty  sheen 
that  it  was  quite  difficult  to  determine  if  they  were  friends  or 
foes.  Few  thought  or  cared  anything  about  it.  Gen.  Sigel, 
with  a  group  of  officers,  was  observed  intently  watching  through 
his  field  glass  the  gathering  hosts  that  were  deploying  upon  and 
darkening  the  prairie  with  their  advancing  squadrons.  The  36th, 
together  with  the  whole  column,  composed  of  alternate  bodies  of 
infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery,  marched  slowly  but  steadily  and 
in  perfect  order  through  the  town  and  entered  the  woods  and 
thickets  beyond,  which  arched  and  shadowed  the  road  to  Sugar 
Creek,  in  blissful  ignorance  that  within  the  tangled  recesses  of 
the  forest  there  lurked  a  concealed  but  dangerous  foe. 

An  accident  to  the  regimental  ammunition  wagon,  in  a  narrow 
part  of  the  road  about  a  mile  from  Bentonville,  caused  a  short 
delay.  Company  B  was  left  to  repair  damages  and  guard  its 
valued  stores,  while  the  balance  of  the  regiment  marched  on. 
The  rear  files  had  but  just  passed  and  disappeared  around  an 
angle  in  the  crooked  road,  when  five  hundred  Confederate  cavalry 
burst  suddenly  from  the  thicket,  surprised  the  guards  and  arrested 
Company  B  in  its  work  of  repairing  the  wagon.  They  swarmed 
around  like  hornets  and  summoned  the  men  to  surrender.  They 
were  surrounded ;  help  nowhere  appeared ;  resistance  seemed 
impossible,  and  to  be  shot  down  and  die  like  dogs  not  to  be 
thought  of.  Very  reluctantly  they  stacked  their  arms  and  sur 
rendered. 

Just  then  the  12th  Missouri  came  up,  and  encountering  the 
enemy  poured  a  sharp  and  destructive  fire  into  their  ranks,  scat 
tering  and  driving  them  back  into  the  thickets  from  whence  they 
came,  recapturing  the  wagon  and  carrying  away  its  contents  in 
safety.  While  the  attention  of  the  enemy  was  diverted  by  the 
lively  firing  from  the  12th  Missouri,  many  of  their  prisoners 


132  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

escaped,  and  making  their  way  through  the  woods  joined  the 
column  as  it  was  descending  a  ravine  into  the  valley  of  Sugar 
Creek. 

We  heard  the  heavy  booming  of  artillery  at  Bentonville,  the 
rattle  of  musketry  resounding  through  the  forest  in  our  rear,  and 
from  file  to  file  the  word  was  passed,  "  Sigel  is  practicing  with  his 
guns  on  the  prairie/'  He  was,  indeed !  his  target,  human  beings, 
that  went  down  beneath  his  hurtling  shot.  Few,  if  any,  supposed 
that  the  incessant  roar  of  artillery,  awakening  answering  echoes 
from  the  hills,  valleys  and  surrounding  forests,  were  voices  from 
the  impending  conflict,  telling  of  the  desperate  struggle  of  Sigel 
in  cutting  his  way  through  the  swarming  enemy,  or  that  the  music 
from  his  cannon  was  the  reveille  ushering  in  a  day  of  battle,  car 
nage  and  blood. 

We  had  just  passed  over  the  ground.  We  had  seen  no  enemy 
or  indications  of  a  hostile  force  so  near  at  hand,  and  it  required 
other  assurances  than  the  booming  of  cannon  to  convince  us  that 
a  fierce  battle  was  then  pending  but  a  short  mile  away  in  our  rear. 

While  pressing  forward  in  this  state  of  doubt  and  uncertainty, 
some  of  the  men  from  Company  B,  who  had  escaped,  came  up, 
without  hats  or  coats,  in  a  perfect  ooze  of  prespiration  and  fever 
of  excitement,  and  told  of  the  fighting  at  Bentonville,  "that  their 
Company  had  been  cut  to  pieces,  and  they  alone  had  escaped  to 
tell  the  tale."  No  announcement  could  have  been  more  startling. 
Then  the  appearance  of  a  few  wounded  stragglers  from  the  12th 
Missouri,  pale,  faint  and  bleeding,  whose  injuries  being  slight, 
permitted  them  to  walk  until  their  wounds  could  be  bandaged  and 
ambulances  found  for  their  transportation.  These,  together  with 
the  continuous  uproar  of  guns,  and  smoke  clouds  leaping  in  sud 
den  gusts  or  rising  lazily  up  over  the  trees,  was  all  we  could  see 
of  the  pending  strife,  but  was  sufficient  to  remove  all  doubts. 


EAGER  FOR  THE  CONFLICT.  133 

Nowhere  was  there  a  single  symptom  of  panic  among  our  officers 
and  men.  The  only  thought  which  found  expression  in  words 
was,  "  When  shall  we,  too,  mingle  in  the  conflict,  witness  its  hor 
rors,  share  its  vicissitudes  and  glories?" 

Col.  Greusel  was  a  mile  or  more  in  advance,  at  the  head  of  his 
brigade,  ignorant  of  the  turmoil  of  battle  in  his  rear;  and  with 
out  orders  or  information  that  the  regiment  was  needed,  Lieut. 
Col.  Joslyn  would  not  halt  or  turn  back  the  column.  We  moved 
lazily  along  down  a  ravine  in  the  outlying  hills,  into  and  across 
the  valley,  the  men  indignant  that  we  were  not  faced  about  and 
allowed  to  share  the  golden  harvest  of  glory  being  gathered  by 
Sigel's  batallions  in  the  rear.  Capt.  Miller  was  furious  at  the 
misfortune  which  had  overtaken  his  Company  and  left  him  with 
but  a  shadowy  remnant  of  his  command. 

The  rapid  riding  of  aids  to  the  front  soon  brought  Col.  Greusel 
back,  and  when  he  thundered  out  the  order,  u  About  Face ! 
Double  Quick!  March!"  it  was  received  with  cheer  upon  cheer, 
and  instantly  the  column  was  in  motion,  retracing  its  steps.  The 
men  were  never  more  jubilant,  urging  each  other  forward  to  what 
was  supposed  to  be  their  first  pitched  battle.  It  may  not  be  out 
of  place  to  make  the  passing  remark  that  this  enthusiasm  of 
unfledged  warriors,  like  the  measles,  chicken  pox  and  other  kin 
dred  diseases,  is  not  apt  to  attack  a  man  violently  more  than  once. 
It  is  not  true,  as  a  rule,  that  after  a  battle  or  two  men  grow  care 
less  as  to  its  perils  or  regardless  of  its  possibilities.  The  experi 
ence  of  those  who  have  stood  unflinchingly  the  storm  of  a  dozen 
battles  attests  the  contrary.  Familiarity  with  the  tragic  scenes 
of  battle  usually  gives  men  self-reliance  and  coolness,  and  renders 
them  less  liable  to  panic;  but  at  the  same  time  it  tempers  their 
former  eagerness  and  causes  them  to  regard  a  battle  as  about  the 
most  serious  business  in  which  they  can  engage. 


134  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  music  of  artillery  became  more  audible,  and  the  mingling 
patter  of  musketry  more  distinct  as  we  approached  the  hills  bor 
dering  the  southern  confines  of  the  valley,  and  over  the  tree  tops 
we  could  see  smoke  wreaths  from  bursting  shell  and  hear  their 
wailing  through  the  air.  Now  and  then  stray  rebel  shot  fell  and 
ricocheted  in  close  proximity  to  the  moving  column.  It  soon 
became  apparent  that  the  tide  of  battle  was  moving  toward  us, 
and  that  its  turbulent  waves  would  dash  its  spray  of  balls  over 
the  ground  we  then  occupied.  A  halt  was  ordered,  skirmishers 
thrown  out,  and  the  regiment  formed  in  line  of  battle,  partially 
protected  behind  the  banks  of  a  shallow  ravine.  The  different 
regiments  composing  the  brigade  turned  off  from  the  road  into 
the  fields  or  thick  underbrush  on  either  hand,  and  in  this  position 
the  men  rested  on  their  arms  until  the  gathering  storm  should 
burst  upon  them. 

Soon  the  regiments  and  squadrons  participating  in  the  engage 
ment  filed  down  the  ravine  into  the  valley,  and  slowly  marching 
along  the  road  in  perfect  order,  passed  the  position  occupied  by  the 
36th.  Then  came  the  artillery  with  its  smoke  begrimmed  cannon 
eers,  and  Generals  Asboth  and  Sigel  as  cool  and  smiling  as  if  on 
dress  parade.  Then  the  cavalry,  guarding  well  the  rear.  A 
squadron  of  Confederate  horsemen  appeared  at  the  mouth  of  the 
ravine,  with  the  supposed  intention  of  charging  down  upon  the 
rear  guard.  Two  guns  were  taken  back,  and  a  half  dozen  shells 
in  quick  succession  planted  in  their  midst.  A  dozen  steeds 
bounded  madly  and  riderless  away,  an  example  which  the  remain 
ing  riders,  by  the  vigorous  application  of  spur  and  gun  barrel  to 
their  horses,  were  not  slow  in  following.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
Confederate  horsemen  that  came  pouring  down  the  hill,  disap 
peared  at  a  rate  of  speed  which  outdid  their  efforts  in  coming — 
but  as  long  as  there  remained  a  "butternut,"  a  horse  or  a  straw 


END  OF  THE  BATTLE  OF  BENTONVILLE.         135 

hat  in  sight,  the  shower  of  iron  was  rained  among  them.  Sub 
sequently  in  passing  over  this  ground,  nine  Confederate  graves 
told  the  result  of  the  unerring  aim  of  Hoffman's  guns,  at  this 
the  final  repulse  of  the  enemy. 

We  saw  them  in  vast  numbers  swarming  over  the  bluffs  over 
looking  the  valley  of  Sugar  Creek,  scanning  the  blue  line  of 
infantry  stretching  away  in  the  distance  with  its  myriad  of  glis 
tening  bayonets,  but  they  did  not  venture  within  the  range  of 
Sigel's  terrible  guns,  for  thinned  ranks  attested  the  severity  of 
the  iron  hail. 

Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  which  all  authorities  con 
sulted  have  treated  as  a  part  of  the  subsequent  action  at  Pea 
Ridge,  which  was  fought  more  than  ten  miles  away.  Without 
further  molestation  the  command  resumed  its  march  up  the  valley 
of  Sugar  Creek,  and  at  four  o'clock  joined  the  Division  of  Gen. 
Davis  already  in  position. 

An  inquiry  among  those  who  participated  in  the  engagement 
elicited  the  following  facts  in  regard  to  the  incidents  of  the  day. 
The  long  column  of  troops,  composing  Sigel's  Division,  with  its 
supply  trains  and  transportation,  fairly  on  the  march,  extended 
over  many  miles,  winding  over  narrow  and  rough  roads,  mostly 
through  a  hilly  and  heavily  timbered  country.  The  rear  guard, 
composed  of  Companies  A  and  B  of  the  36th  Cavalry  and  a 
few  squadrons  of  the  Benton  Huzzars,  on  arriving  at  Benton 
ville  were  ordered  to  halt  until  the  pickets  which  had  been 
called  in  and  all  the  stragglers  had  come  up.  The  troopers 
unbridled  their  horses  and  were  in  the  act  of  feeding  when 
the  steadily  increasing  force  at  first  noticed  on  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  prairie  began  to  advance  rapidly  towards  town. 
The  soldiers  took  it  for  granted  that  these  were  Curtis'  troops  on 
their  march  from  Cross  Hollow,  until  the  advancing  lines  broke 


136  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

to  the  right  and  left,  with  the  evident  intention  of  surrounding 
the  little  detachment  of  cavalry.  Three-fourths  of  the  command 
had  passed  through  Bentonville  and  entered  the  forest,  which 
commences  at  its  suburbs,  when  the  practiced  eye  of  Sigel  dis 
covered  the  enemy  blackening  the  prairie  south  of  the  town  and 
closing  rapidly  in  upon  him,  enveloping  his  rear  batallions,  evi 
dently  aiming  to  force  that  portion  of  the  command  to  surrender. 
Information  of  the  disaster  at  the  ammunition  wagon  was  received 
when  he  saw  that  he  was  nearly  surrounded  with  enemies  in 
front,  flank  and  rear,  and  that  to  effect  a  junction  with  that  por 
tion  of  the  division  in  advance  he  must  cut  his  way  through 
vastly  superior  numbers.  Hurridly  ordering  the  cavalry  to 
mount,  he  turned  to  Capt.  Jenks,  and  said.  "  Captain,  the  rebels 
are  in  our  front,  on  either  side  and  all  around  us,"  and  raising 
his  hand  and  bringing  it  down  with  vehemence  by  way  of  empha 
sis,  he  continued,  "We  must  advance;  we  must  cut  our  way 
through — we  shall  cut  our  way  through!"  The  enemy  halted 
for  a  moment  and  displaying  a  Confederate  flag,  all  doubts  of  their 
true  character  were  removed.  It  was  estimated  that  they  num 
bered  at  least  ten  thousand,  while  Sigel  had  but  eight  hundred 
cavalry,  infantry  and  artillery  under  his  control.  As  the  troops 
moved  out  of  the  east  side  of  town,  the  rebels  entered  from  the 
west.  They  had  proceeded  but  a  short  distance  when  the  timber 
on  either  side  the  road  was  observed  to  be  filled  with  Confeder 
ates,  and  across  an  opening  in  front  others  were  observed  in  strong 
force  barring  their  further  progress.  Sigel's  batteries,  which  had 
been  concealed  by  the  cavalry,  were  brought  into  position,  the 
guns  unlimbered,  and  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell  sent  crashing 
through  their  ranks,  scattering  them  like  chaff  before  the  wind, 
and  the  way  opened  for  his  advance.  The  enemy  hung  upon  his 
rear,  and  confident  in  their  ascendency  in  numbers  pressed  forward 


SIGBL'S  MASTERLY  RETREAT.  137 

to  the  charge,  but  many  falling  under  the  cooly  delivered  and 
rapid  fire  of  the  guns,  they  wavered  and  finally  fell  back  under 
cover  of  the  woods  and  natural  inequalities  of  the  ground. 

Again  the  march  was  resumed,  but  the  enemy  being  continu 
ally  reinforced,  pressed  eagerly  forward,  curled  around  their  flanks, 
and  threatened  with  annihilation  the  hundreds  who  were  holding 
their  ground  against  thousands.  Grape  shot  and  shell  were 
hurled  into  their  thickening  ranks,  but  no  sooner  had  one  column 
been  dispersed  and  driven  back,  than  a  fresh  one  appeared  in  rear 
or  flank,  which  in  turn  served  as  food  for  our  hissing  missiles, 
every  one  of  which  marked  its  course  by  fallen  men  and  writhing 
steeds  and  riders.  This  charge,  like  the  former,  was  quickly 
repulsed,  and  the  shattered  ranks  of  the  enemy  fled  for  shelter 
under  cover  of  the  timber  they  had  just  left.  The  column 
entered  the  ravine  leading  down  from  the  plateau  to  the  valley  of 
Sugar  Creek,  when  the  timbered  bluffs  on  either  side  were  found 
covered  with  the  enemy,  against  whom  the  artillery  could  not  be 
used  with  effect.  A  portion  of  the  cavalry  were  dismounted  as 
skirmishers,  and  charging  up  the  bluffs  kept  them  at  bay  while 
the  command  passed  down  the  ravine.  Discovering  the  small 
numbers  of  those  holding  them  in  check,  the  enemy  were  on  the 
point  of  rushing  down  and  overwhelming  the  skirmishers,  when 
a  detachment  of  infantry,  engaged  in  another  part  of  the  field, 
brought  their  muskets  to  a  right  oblique,  and  emptying  the  con 
tents  into  their  ranks,  forced  them  back. 

In  this  manner,  alternately  fighting  and  retreating,  and  at  all 
times  more  or  less  closely  pressed  by  superior  numbers,  Sigel 
made  his  slow  and  toilsome  way,  and  extricating  himself  from 
their  folds,  reached  the  valley  and  joined  the  command,  as  has 
already  been  related.  But  for  Sigel's  admirable  skill  displayed 


10 


138  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

in  this  retreat  from  Bentonville,  availing  himself  of  every  advan 
tage  which  the  nature  of  the  ground  afforded  for  the  use  of 
artillery  against  the  crowded  ranks  of  a  foe  with  arms  of  lighter 
caliber,  he  must  have  been  cut  off,  his  trains  and  artillery  cap 
tured,  and  the  whole  federal  army  placed  in  a  position  of  great 
peril.  But  one  or  two  lighter  pieces  of  the  enemy's  artillery 
could  be  brought  up  in  time  to  be  of  service  to  them  in  the  action, 
while  our  long  ranged  rifled  guns  kept  them  at  such  a  distance  as 
only  at  unfrequent  intervals  to  subject  our  men  to  the  fire  of 
small  arms.  The  enemy  was  severely  punished,  losing  heavily  in 
killed  and  wounded,  but  not  in  prisoners,  only  fifteen  or  twenty 
being  taken,  while  the  losses  on  our  part  amounted  to  sixteen 
killed,  thirty  wounded,  and  twenty-six  prisoners,  all  but  two  being 
from  Company  B  of  the  36th  Illinois. 

As  before  related,  a  junction  was  effected  late  in  the  afternoon 
with  the  main  army,  and  a  position  on  the  right  of  Davis'  Divis 
ion,  upon  the  hills  to  the  north  of,  and  overlooking  the  val 
ley  of  Sugar  Creek.  Davis'  batteries  were  planted  and  tempor 
ary  earth  works  thrown  up  for  their  protection,  and  trees  felled 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  afford  partial  shelter  to  his  men. 

Lieut.  B.  F.  Campbell,  as  officer  of  the  guard,  had  charge  of 
a  portion  of  the  picket  line  thrown  out  a  considerable  distance  in 
advance.  When  Sigel  marched  to  Sugar  Creek,  from  some  inad 
vertence  the  Lieutenant  was  not  notified  of  the  movement.  Sub 
sequently  learning  that  the  enemy  was  moving  upon  Bentonville 
in  force,  he  hastily  withdrew  the  pickets,  except  four  who  were 
captured  before  he  could  reach  them,  and  started  for  camp.  He 
found  the  whole  country  swarming  with  enemies,  and  every  avenue 
of  escape  closed.  Taking  a  circuitous  route,  and  pretending  to 
be  Price's  body  guard,  he  passed  innumerable  squads  of  the 
enemy,  borrowing  pistols  and  a,mmunition  of  them,  giving  them 


NIGHT    MOVEMENT    OF    THE    MAIN    COMMAND.  139 

orders,  and  finally  bringing  his  little  detachment  in  safety  to  our 
lines. 

Gen.  Curtis,  on  receiving  definite  information  of  the  enemy's 
advance,  moved  the  main  command  from  Cross  Hollow  during 
the  night  to  the  heights  on  Davis 's  left,  taking  up  a  strong  posi 
tion  along  the  telegraph  road.  Thus  at  the  close  of  the  day  the 
whole  army  of  the  South-west,  except  details  for  guarding  the 
long  line  of  communication,  and  Company  F  from  the  36th  Illi 
nois,  who  were  on  an  expedition  to  McDonald  and  Newton  Coun 
ties  in  Missouri,  were  in  position  on  the  heights  of  Pea  Ridge, 
overlooking  the  valley  of  Sugar  Creek,  prepared  for  action,  and 
numbering  all  told  a  little  less  than  ten  thousand  men. 

A  few  Confederates  were  seen  at  intervals  flitting  among  the 
brush  and  trees  which  crowned  the  opposite  heights,  but  not  a 
shot  saluted  us,  and  as  the  shades  of  night  gathered  around,  the 
woods,  the  fields,  the  rocks  and  hills  were  voiceless  and  still. 
Within  the  camps  the  hum  of  conversation  was  kept  up  around 
the  smouldering  fires  until  a  late  hour.  Groups  of  men  gathered 
to  hear  the  story  of  some  participant  in  the  contest  at  Benton- 
ville,  listening  with  intense  interest  to  the  details  of  the  day's 
adventures;  others  were  discussing  earnestly  the  probabilities 
and  possibilities  of  to-morrow's  conflict.  Some  were  withdrawing 
rusty  charges  from  their  guns  or  cleaning  their  pieces  for  future 
contingencies.  At  the  camp  fires  cups  of  coffee  were  being 
brewed,  for  with  campaigners,  both  old  and  young,  no  matter  of 
business  can  be  transacted  or  victory  won,  without  first  being  forti 
fied  arid  saturated  with  that  fragrant  beverage — "that  Heavenly 
compound  which  cheers  but  not  inebriates."  Then  all  but  watch 
ful  sentinels  and  anxious  officers  wrap  up  in  their  blankets,  seek 
a  leafy  couch,  and  retire  to  peaceful  slumbers  and  pleasant  dreams. 


CHAPTER   X. 

PEA    RIDGE. 

EFORE  proceeding  with  the  details  of  the  sanguinary 
fighting  on  the  now  historic  field  of  Pea  Ridge,  it 
may  be  well  to  notice  the  character  of  the  country 
occupied  by  the  forces  participating  in  the  engagement ; 
particularly  that  portion  of  it  rendered  memorable 
by  the  storm  of  battle  which  swept  its  slopes,  and  known  in  the 
nomenclature  of  the  country  as  Pea  Ridge. 

From  the  center  of  Missouri  to  its  southern  and  south-western 
border,  a  range  of  irregular  hills  traverse  the  State,  known  as 
the  Ozarks.  Their  rugged  slopes  once  surmounted,  a  high 
plateau,  diversified  with  hill  and  dale,  forest  and  prairie,  is  pre 
sented  to  the  eye.  The  northern  counties  of  the  State  of  Arkan 
sas  are  intersected  by  a  similar  yet  more  lofty  range,  known  as 
the  Boston  Mountains.  These  two  series  of  hills  unite  in  the 
north-western  counties  of  Arkansas  and  form  an  acute  triangle, 
and  from  thence  gradually  slope  away  by  a  series  of  slight  ascents 
and  waves  of  hills  until  they  finally  disappear  in  the  Indian 
country  beyond  the  western  confines  of  Arkansas.  It  is  at  the 
junction  of  these  hills  just  below  the  southern  border  of  Mis 
souri,  in  the  north-western  county  of  Arkansas,  that  the  events 
about  to  be  related  occurred. 


DESCRIPTION    OF   THE    VICINITY    OF    PEA    RIDGE.  141 

While  a  considerable  portion  of  this  elevated  region  is  arable 
land,  yielding  a  rich  reward  to  the  cultivators  of  its  soil,  by  far 
the  larger  part  is  cut  and  seamed  by  gorges  or  furrowed  by  rocky 
ridges  and  steep  ascents.  The  stage  and  telegraph-road  from 
Springfield,  Missouri,  to  Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  passes  over  the 
highest  elevations  of  the  Ozark  range  until  within  five  miles  of 
the  south  line  of  the  State,  near  the  town  of  Keitsville,  where  it 
plunges  into  a  deep  gorge  which  has  passed  into  history  as  "  Cross 
Timbers  Hollow,"  from  the  following  circumstance.  In 
the  flight  of  Ben.  McCulloch  and  Price  from  Springfield,  at  the 
time  of  Fremont's  advance  in  November,  1861,  believing  that  a 
rapid  pursuit  was  intended,  trees  were  felled  across  the  road  and 
hollow,  to  obstruct  the  march  of  Fremont's  troops.  Afterwards 
Price  was  obliged  to  remove  this  fallen  timber  for  the  passage  of 
his  own  troops  and  supplies,  on  his  return  and  re-occupation  of 
Springfield.  The  subsequent  retreat  of  Price  down  this  hollow 
when  followed  by  Gen.  Curtis,  was  too  hurried  and  our  fire  too 
hot  to  allow  these  obstructions  being  again  placed  in  the  way. 

Just  before  the  State  line  is  reached,  the  creek  which  courses 
its  whole  length,  known  as  the  middle  branch  of  Sugar  Creek, 
turns  to  the  west,  while  the  road  continuing  south,  up  a  lateral 
ravine,  and  surmounting  a  steep  ascent,  debouches  upon  the 
elevated  plateau  of  Pea  Ridge,  near  the  Elk-Horn  Tavern. 
South  of  the  State  line  in  Arkansas,  and  two  miles  distant,  a  high 
range  of  hills  take  their  rise  near  the  Elk  Horn  and  stretch  away 
in  irregular  outline  many  miles  to  the  west.  The  southern  face 
of  these  hills  are  precipitous  and  rocky,  but  their  northern  slopes 
are  more  regular  and  undulating.  At  the  foot  of  the  southern 
escarpments  of  rock  were  cultivated  fields,  now  covered  with 
white  and  withered  cornstalks,  stretching  away  to  the  west  from 
two  to  three  miles.  Along  the  base  of  these  cliffs  a  road  passes 


142  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

westward  to  Bentonville  with  a  lateral  branch  to  Lee  Town,  a 
hamlet  of  a  dozen  houses  crowning  the  ridge,  near  the  western 
extremity  of  the  corn  fields. 

From  the  foot  of  this  rocky  range  southward,  the  surface  of 
the  country  slopes  away  in  undulating  waves  to  the  bluffs  which 
border  the  deep  valley  of  Sugar  Creek,  the  waters  of  which  flow 
westward,  and,  uniting  with  other  streams,  finally  enter  the 
Indian  Country,  near  the  south-west  corner  of  Missouri.  Pea 
Ridge  comprises  the  elevated  plateau  between  the  middle  and 
south  branches  of  this  stream  and  occupies  a  surface  of  many 
square  miles  in  extent.  Copious  springs  and  shining  rivulets 
have  their  source  at  the  foot  of  the  rocky  range  of  hills,  meander 
ing  across  the  fields  and  through  the  forests,  at  length  mingling 
their  soft,  murmuring  waters  with  those  of  Sugar  Creek.  The 
valleys  of  these  streams  are  narrow,  while  the  hills  which  border 
and  confine  them  are  rocky  and  precipitous. 

The  general  aspect  of  the  country  may  be  summed  up  as  being 
composed  of  alternate  undulations  of  field  and  woodland  and  of 
rocky  acclivities.  First  commencing  at  the  Elk-Horn  Tavern, 
and  stretching  indefinitely  away  to  the  westward,  rises  the  apex 
of  the  ridge,  with  its  sharp  abutments  of  rock  worn  and  jagged 
bv  the  winds  and  storms  of  centuries.  At  their  southern  base  a 
succession  of  cultivated  fields,  averaging  more  than  a  half  mile 
in  breadth,  reaching  two  or  three  miles  westward  with  more  or 
less  irregularity  of  outline,  and  occasional  projecting  points  of 
timber.  Then  succeeds  a  belt  of  timber  a  mile  or  more  in  extent, 
covering  the  heights  which  overlook  the  valley. 

On  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  March  all  the  troops  were  in 
position.  They  occupied  the  heights  to  the  north  of  and  over 
looking  the  Sugar  Creek  valley.  The  left  resting  upon  the  tele 
graph  road,  the  right  upon  a  lateral  ravine  at  right  angles  with 


POSITIONS    OF   THE    ARMY.  143 

the  main  valley,  while  two  miles  to  the  rear  at  the  Elk-Horn  were 
parked  the  trains  and  miscellaneous  stores  pertaining  to  the  army, 
guarded  by  the  25th  Missouri  and  a  detachment  from  the  3rd 
Illinois  Cavalry. 

Sigel's  two  Divisions,  commanded  by  Asboth  and  Osterhaus 
respectively,  occupied  the  right,  Jeff.  C.  Davis  held  the  center, 
while  Carr  was  posted  on  the  left ;  the  line  as  thus  formed  front 
ing  south,  from  whence  the  Confederate  attack  was  expected. 
Such  was  the  disposition  of  our  forces  on  the  morning  of  the  7th ; 
the  regiments  well  in  hand,  the  men  burning  with  eagerness  ;  for 
the  enthusiasm  of  military  novices  as  yet  had  not  been  toned 
down  by  experience. 


CHAPTER   XL 

BATTLE    OF    PEA    RIDGE FIRST    DAY. 

^ 

JAYLIGHT  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  found  the 
camp  astir.  Soldiers  cooked  an  impromptu  meal 
with  arms  in  their  hands,  discussing  the  while  the 
probabilities  of  the  day.  Cavalry  horses  munched 
their  corn,  and  the  dark-mouthed  engines  of 
destruction  remained  in  battery  precisely  where  planted  the 
evening  before,  as  yet  silent,  but  to  the  imaginative  who  conjure 
up  phantoms  of  horror  from  the  smoke  wreaths  of  expected  bat 
tle,  these  silent  watch-dogs  were  thinking  of  the  part  each  were 
to  take  in  awakening  the  thunders  of  the  coming  hours.  The 
sun  arose  lazily  yet  smiling  above  the  smoky  horizon,  shedding 
rays  of  light  and  heat  around  and  over  the  scene  as  if  the  busi 
ness  in  which  men  were  about  to  engage  was  not  of  that  charac 
ter  at  which  it  should  veil  its  face. 

Very  soon  staff  officers  were  seen  riding  rapidly  from  brigade 
to  brigade,  their  horses  reeking  with  sweat.  Hurried  messages 
were  delivered.  Officers  were  seen  in  brief  consultation ;  their 
horses  were  saddled,  harnessed  and  attached  to  the  guns,  and 
throughout  the  camps  all  were  in  a  state  of  readiness  and  silent 
expectancy.  Soon  it  was  whispered  that  the  enemy  declining  to 


A   FLANK    MOVEMENT.  145 

attack  in  front,  had  turned  the  right  and  was  rapidly  gaining 
the  rear  of  our  position.  Believing  that  only  the  intervening  tim 
ber  and  underbrush  obscured  their  movements,  we  expected  them 
upon  us  immediately. 

By  this  flank  movement,  what  was  our  front  became  the  rear 
and  the  right  flank  of  the  army  became  its  left.  Soon  came 
the  order,  shrill  and  loud,  "Fall  in,  men,"  when  a  line  was 
formed,  fronting  to  the  northwest,  and,  advancing  a  short  dis 
tance  in  the  wood,  we  took  a  position  overlooking  a  ravine.  The 
underbrush  was  cleared  and  obstructions  to  movements  in  line  or 
column  removed,  that  when  the  expected  attack  should  come, 
nothing  might  prevent  a  close,  rapid  and  deadly  fire.  In  this 
position  we  remained  a  half  hour,  straining  our  eyes  through  the 
deep  openings  in  the  wood  and  over  the  summits  of  distant  ridges, 
watching  for  an  approaching  force — but  we  looked  and  listened 
in  vain.  Not  a  movement  or  sound  disturbed  the  calm  repose  of 
the  morning.  Then  came  an  order  to  march,  when  the  column 
was  headed  to  the  north-east,  reaching  the  telegraph  road,  which 
was  packed  with  a  moving  mass  of  wagons,  horses,  mules  and 
men,  slowly  drifting  from  the  Elk-Horn  Tavern  to  the  shelter  of 
the  woods  and  ravines  near  the  position  we  had  just  left. 

The  Third  Iowa  Cavalry,  and  detachments  from  various  Mis 
souri  cavalry  regiments,  came  from  the  northeast  and  filed  towards 
the  left,  followed  by  a  section  of  artillery.  Then  came  Jeff.  C. 
Davis,  with  his  Indiana  regiments,  moving  to  the  positions 
assigned  them.  As  yet  no  hostile  battalions  disputed  our  pro 
gress,  or  arrested  the  disposition  that  was  being  made  of  the 
forces.  We  saw  no  cannon  crouching  open-mouthed  and  look 
ing  threateningly  down  upon  us.  Except  the  continuous  sound 
of  slowly  moving  columns,  the  grinding  of  artillery  wheels  over 
the  gravel-strewed  paths,  the  braying  of  mules  and  the  sharp 


146  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

notes  of  command,  all  was  peaceful  and  calm.  Hills,  fields  and 
forests  basked  in  the  morning  sunshine,  or  were  gently  swept  by 
the  shadows  of  passing  clouds. 

But  at  that  moment  of  forboding  calm,  when  everybody  was 
listening  for  the  stern  summons  to  battle — bang  !  bang  !  bang  ! 
burst  forth,  a  mile  away  to  our  right,  telling  us  that  the  carnival 
had  begun. 

After  the  Indiana  regiments  had  passed,  the  36th  fell  in  and 
marched  northeasterly,  threading  the  crooked  forest  trail  until 
the  extreme  left  of  Davis's  position  was  attained.  It  seemed  as 
if  we  were  marching  away  from  where  the  roar  of  cannon  indi 
cated  that  the  harvest  of  death  had  commenced.  Entering  a  little 
clearing,  we  discovered  the  yellow  hospital  flags,  fluttering  from 
the  gables  of  every  house  in  the  hamlet  of  Leetown,  and  the 
surgeons  busy  with  the  sad,  yet  humane  task  which  it  was  theirs 
to  perform.  And  now  just  ahead  of  us  is  heard  the  rattle  of 
musketry,  the  cheers  and  yells  of  opposing  forces,  the  whirr  of 
shrieking  bullets  and  all  the  awful  din  of  battle.  Passing  through 
a  narrow  belt  of  timber  and  reaching  the  field  beyond,  the  column 
was  being  formed  in  line,  when  "  Look  out  for  the  cavalry  !"  was 
heard  from  the  advance ;  then  from  out  the  babel  of  noise  and 
fire,  which  but  just  now  was  heard  in  front,  there  rushed  a  dozen 
maddened  and  riderless  steeds,  and  after  them  came  tearing 
through  the  fields  and  brush  with  headlong  speed,  down  along 
the  marching  column,  squadrons  of  terrified  cavalry,  without  hats 
or  arms,  in  the  utmost  confusion  and  dismay.  Some  shouted 
as  they  passed,  "  Turn  back  !  Turn  back  !  They'll  give  you 
hell :'  But  unmindful  of  this  admonition,  the  regiment  moved 
on,  gained  the  open  field,  rapidly  completed  its  line  and  was 
ready  for  the  fierce  onslaught  which  now  menaced  them. 


VICISSITUDES   OF   THE   BATTLE.  147 

The  cavalry  disappeared  in  the  woods  to  the  rear,  and  nothing 
interposed  between  us  and  the  long  gray  lines  of  the  enemy  form 
ing  in  the  woods  which  shadowed  the  northern  side  of  the  clear 
ing.  Their  skirmishers  occupied  the  field  on  our  arrival,  and 
were  seen  skulking  through  the  dry  and  deadened  cornstalks  back 
to  their  lines,  and  many  of  their  numbers  were  brought  down  by 
the  unerring  aim  of  our  marksmen,  and  never  left  that  field  alive. 
The  coolness  and  fearless  stand  of  the  36th  restored  the  confi 
dence  of  the  disordered  command  preceding  it,  which  was  upon 
the  point  of  flying.  Our  batteries  were  planted,  Hoifman's 
on  the  left,  and  Welfley's  three  guns,  all  he  had  remaining,  sup 
ported  by  Company  E  of  the  36th,  on  the  right.  The  line  of 
infantry  slowly  retired  to  the  timber  in  their  rear,  forming  behind 
the  fence  which  partially  protected  them  from  rebel  shot.  The 
enemy,  thinking  we  were  retreating,  showed  themselves  on  the 
opposite  side  and  threw  down  the  fence,  with  the  apparent  intention 
of  charging  upon  us.  At  once  our  batteries  opened  and  rained 
upon  their  exposed  ranks  a  tempest  of  shot  and  shell.  We  saw 
their  lines  waver  as  great  gaps  were  made  in  their  quivering 
ranks.  Their  dead  and  dying  thickly  strewed  the  field,  while 
some  in  sudden  panic  hurried  to  the  rear.  Then  the  opposite 
forest  became  vocal  with  the  thunder  of  artillery,  and  rebel 
batteries  sent  back  a  responsive  tempest  of  shot.  The  greater 
part  of  the  rebel  fire  was  concentrated  upon  the  batteries  and 
supporting  infantry,  including  Company  E.  of  the  36th,  who 
stood  exposed  to  the  pitiless  storm  upon  that  unprotected  field. 
The  men  lay  down  and  closely  hugged  the  earth  while  shell  went 
shrieking  over  their  heads  into  the  woods  beyond,  some,  indeed, 
striking  uncomfortably  near,  causing  a  little  excitement  among 
those  under  fire  for  the  first  time. 

A  shell  killed  John  H.  Harris  and  tore  an  arm  from  William 
Gibson,  both  of  Company  C.  He  started  to  find  the  hospital 


148  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

alone,  and  when  asked  by  Col.  Greusel  if  he  should  not  send 
some  one  to  help  him  along,  heroically  replied,  "  No,  Colonel, 
the  men  are  needed  here;  I  can  find  my  way  alone,"  and  pale 
and  bleeding  he  tottered  to  the  rear  to  seek  the  surgeon's  aid.  A 
shell  shattered  a  leg  from  Ira  Fuller,  of  Company  E,  and  in  a 
dying  condition  he  was  borne  off'  the  field.  Not  a  soldier 
flinched.  The  ranks  of  the  brave  closed  up,  and  still  the  rending 
storm  went  on. 

But  if  their  shot  flew  fast  and  furious,  our  batteries  hurled  an 
answering  response  of  grape,  shell  and  shot,  which  mowed  down 
their  ranks  as  with  a  whirlwind  of  fire.  What  could  they  do  but 
bend  beneath  the  storm  and  finally  melt  away  before  it,  with 
drawing  their  wavering  ranks  to  the  cover  of  sheltering  woods  V 
After  their  batteries  had  been  silenced,  and  their  menacing  lines 
were  no  longer  visible,  Companies  B  and  G  were  sent  across  the 
field  and  into  the  brush  beyond  to  discover  the  enemy's  position, 
and,  if  possible,  their  intentions. 

A  squad  from  Company  B  when  near  the  fence  saw  a  mounted 
officer  making  his  way  through  the  brush  and  coming  towards 
them.  When  near  by,  they  fired,  and  the  Confederate  officer  fell 
dead  from  his  horse.  The  skirmishers  sprang  over  the  fence,  and 
Peter  Pelican  secured  the  gold  watch  found  upon  the  dead  body 
of  the  officer.  Another  of  the  boys  was  in  the  act  of  securing 
his  belt  and  pistols,  when  a  volley  was  poured  upon  them,  and 
they  fled  back  to  the  field  and  assumed  their  position  in  the  line 
of  skirmishers.  The  officer  whom  they  had  shot  proved  to  be  the 
Confederate  General,  Ben.  McCulloch. 

Our  skirmishers  found  a  number  of  Texas  and  Louisiana  regi 
ments  in  ambush  behind  the  fence,  with  whom  a  lively  contest 
was  maintained  for  fifteen  minutes.  The  fence  seemed  actually 
fringed  with  fire  ;  every  length  of  it  concealed  a  score  of  sharp 


THE   THIRTY-SIXTH    DISPERSES   THE    ENEMY.  149 

shooters,  safely  protected  behind  rails  and  logs,  and  able  to  select 
their  living  target,  take  deliberate  aim  and  send  their  shot  with 
fatal  effect.  Protected  as  they  were,  scarcely  a  federal  bullet 
harmed  them.  Already  many  a  wounded  hero  sprinkled  Arkan 
sas  soil  with  his  blood.  To  remain  beneath  that  withering  fire  was 
but  to  perish,  and  to  fall  back  became  a  necessity.  But  the 
overwhelming  numbers  and  concentrated  fire  of  the  enemy  had 
told  heavily  upon  the  thin  line  of  skirmishers,  and  they  retired, 
fighting,  to  their  first  position  with  the  regiment,  having  twenty 
killed  and  wounded. 

A  charge  from  the  enemy  was  looked  for  and  guarded  against, 
and  then  our  batteries  opened  upon  them  with  thunder  bolts  of 
wrath  launched  with  unerring  precision  and  merciless  fury  into 
their  devoted  ranks. 

With  fixed  bayonets  the  86th  advanced  across  the  field  in 
splendid  order,  no  flinching  or  falling  out  of  line.  The  storm 
which  howled  about  their  heads  might  destroy  but  could  not  stop 
them.  But  the  enemy  did  not  wait  their  coming.  They  fled  in 
a  disorderly  rout  into  the  recesses  of  the  forests.  No  enemy 
again  appeared  in  force  in  this  portion  of  the  field  during  the 
remainder  of  the  day.  Occasionally  a  puff  of  smoke  might  be 
seen  among  the  distant  trees,  followed  by  the  muffled  roar  of 
cannon  and  the  shriek  of  a  projectile,  to  be  met  by  an  instant 
reply  from  Hoffman  and  Welfley. 

There  being  no  longer  an  enemy  in  our  front,  the  attention  of 
the  batteries  were  called  to  a  high  elevation  in  the  line  of  hills 
west  from  the  Elk-Horn  and  more  than  a  mile  distant,  from  which 
position  the  whole  field  of  widely  scattered  and  contending  forces 
could  be  overlooked.  It  was  believed  that  the  Confederate  com 
manders  were  there,  superintending  the  battle  and  directing  the 
movement  of  troops  to  points  most  needing  their  presence.  The 


150  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

hill  was  fairly  black  with  Confederates,  when  Lieut.  Beneca,  of 
Welfley's  battery,  elevating  his  guns,  dropped  three  shells  in 
quick  succession  right  in  their  midst.  Numbers  were  observed 
to  fall,  while  the  living  scattered  like  frightened  sheep.  We  saw 
a  white  steed  and  its  rider  lifted  into  the  air  as  a  shell  exploded 
underneath.  That  hill  was  quickly  vacated,  except  by  the 
mangled  remains  of  the  enemy's  dead  and  dying.  During  the 
afternoon  small  numbers  ventured  to  occupy  its  crest,  but  one  or 
two  shells  exploded  upon  its  summit  was  sufficient  to  clear  it 
instantly  of  rebels. 

About  three  o'clock  P.  M.  a  strong  column  of  the  enemy  made 
a  furious  onset  upon  Jeff.  C.  Davis 's  Division,  which  was  posted 
on  the  right  of  Osterhaus.  Soon  the  contending  forces  were 
hotly  engaged.  Volleys  of  musketry  mingled  their  sharp  tones 
in  the  grand  concert,  while  there  was  an  incessant  crashing  of 
guns  uniting  their  voices  in  one  sublime  chorus  that  reverberated 
through  the  forest  and  among  the  hills.  Wave  after  wave  of 
rebel  infantry  bore  down  upon  our  thin  lines,  and  a  half  mile  of 
flame  and  smoke  leaped  from  their  serried  ranks.  The  men  of 
Indiana  fell  like  leaves  before  an  autumn  blast,  and  the  18th  and 
22nd  Indiana  were  forced  to  recede  from  their  positions. 

Davison's  Peoria  battery  next  engaged  the  attention  of  the 
enemy,  when  from  out  the  belt  of  timber  to  our  right  solid  gray 
lines  of  troops  came  surging  over  the  field  and  thronged  in  dense 
masses'  over  and  around  the  battery,  while  from  their  lines  flashed 
volley  after  volley  of  sulphurous  flame.  The  artillerymen  stood 
by  their  guns  until  pierced  by  shot  they  fell,  or  faint  and  bleeding 
moved  slowly  from  the  field.  The  guns  were  captured,  their 
brave  defenders  with  decimated  ranks  falling  back  to  the  timber 
adjacent  to  Leetown. 


GOOD    EXECUTION    BY    THE    ARTILLERY.  151 

Onward  across  the  field  surged  the  rebel  hosts,  when  Welfley 's 
guns  poured  in  a  deadly  fire  which  cleft  great  openings  in  their 
ranks,  covering  the  ground  with  winrowrs  of  dead  and  wounded, 
causing  them  to  falter,  but  by  the  exertion  of  officers  they  closed 
up  again,  and  like  a  huge  tidal  wave  moved  majestically  on. 
Welfley  and  Company  E  were  in  retreat,  but  firing  as  they  ran. 
The  battery  was  then  withdrawn  to  the  timber  near  Leetown. 
The  12th  and  17th  Missouri  with  portions  of  the  86th  met  the 
thronging  host,  greeting  them  with  a  terrific  shower  of  lead, 
which  staid  the  advancing  tide  until  Welfley  returned  again  to 
the  field.  His  guns  rained  grape  and  canister  into  the  now 
wavering  Confederate  ranks,  and  they  broke  and  fled  in  dismay. 
Company  E  drove  those  away  who  were  holding  Davison's  guns, 
the  battery  was  recaptured  and  returned  to  its  rightful  possessors, 
and  thus  ended  the  conflict  on  the  left. 

The  cavalry,  though  not  in  the  front  line  of  battle,  did  good 
service  in  reconnoitering  and  picking  up  stragglers  from  their 
main  command,  who,  making  their  way  unperceived  through  the 
thick  brush,  annoyed  our  flanks  and  rear.  Company  B  while 
guarding  the  flank,  encountered  a  straggling  detachment  of 
Louisianans,  and  captured  thirty-eight  prisoners,  including  Col. 
Herbert  and  five  other  commissioned  officers.  A  part  of  this 
Company,  under  Lieut.  Chapman,  supported  a  battery  at  Sugar 
Creek,  and  did  not  participate  in  this  day's  engagement. 

During  the  contest  in  which  Davis'  infantry  was  engaged,  a 
Lieutenant  from  one  of  the  Indiana  regiments  had  a  finger  shot 
off  by  a  stray  bullet.  He  ordered  two  of  his  company — a  ser 
geant  and  a  private — to  accompany  him  to  the  hospitals  in  the 
rear.  Col.  Greusel  meeting  him  and  seeing  how  slight  was  his 
wound,  asked  why  he  required  two  attendants,  when  men  were  so 
much  needed  in  front,  adding  that  if  each  man  who  should  be 


152  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

grazed  with  a  bullet  required  so  many  attendants  to  conduct  them 
to  the  rear,  there  soon  would  be  none  left  in  front  to  carry  on  the 
fight.  The  Lieutenant  halted,  and  while  in  the  act  of  giving  his 
reasons  for  such  a  proceeding,  a  solid  shot  came  crashing  through 
the  brains  of  his  attendants  and  struck  him  in  the  breast,  pass 
ing  through  his  body,  hurling  all  three  to  the  earth,  a  mangled 
mass  of  blood,  of  shattered  bones  and  quivering  flesh.  At  such 
a  time  there  was  more  danger  in  leaving  the  ranks  and  crossing 
the  fields,  which  were  swept  with  a  deluge  of  iron  and  lead,  than 
to  remain  and  face  the  storm. 

Away  to  the  right,  all  day  long  the  roar  of  battle  was  terrible 
and  continuous.  Our  forces  there  were  hard  pressed,  and,  after 
urgent  appeals  for  aid  and  an  order  from  head  quarters,  Asboth's 
Division  filed  across  the  fields,  which  were  deserted  and  still, 
except  by  the  moans  of  the  dying,  and  marched  towards  the  Elk 
Horn,  to  aid  Can*  in  the  stubborn  fight  he  was  maintaining  on 
the  right.  The  conflict  was  over  on  the  left ;  the  enemy  driven 
in  confusion  and  with  heavy  loss  from  the  field.  Night  came  on, 
with  its  veil  of  darkness,  to  hide  the  bloody  scene. 

The  incidents  occurring  along  the  line  of  an  extended  field  of 
battle  cannot  be  viewed  from  a  single  point  of  observation.  Par 
ticularly  is  this  the  case  when  the  country  is  diversified  with  hill 
and  valley,  field  and  woodland.  We  can  hear  the  distant  roar  of 
guns  and  see  the  thin,  vapory  clouds  of  smoke  arising  from  differ 
ent  portions  of  the  field,  under  whose  sulphurous  sheen  tragedies 
are  being  enacted,  which  the  imagination  alone  can  fill  with  hor 
rors  and  color  the  picture  with  dark  and  fearful  shadings.  That 
portion  of  the  battle  in  which  the  36th  Illinois  participated  during 
the  conflict  of  March  7th,  has  been  detailed.  A  survey  of  the 
whole  field  and  an  outline  of  the  extended  operations  of  the  forces 
engaged,  will  give  a  more  intelligible  idea  of  the  magnitude  of  the 


CHANGING   THE    POSITIONS    OF    THE    ARMY.  153 

contest,  and  the  bearing  which  the  operations  of  each  separate 
regiment,  brigade,  or  division  had  upon  the  general  result. 

The  very  difficult,  and  often  dangerous,  movement  of  changing 
front    to  the  rear  was   executed,  and  new    positions    occupied, 
as    soon    as    information  of  the   enemy's   movements   was    ob 
tained.     Our  left  rested  upon  the  margin  of  the  fields  adjoin 
ing  Leetown ;  our  right  extending  into  the  woods  at  and  beyond 
the-Elk  Horn  tavern,  presenting  a  front  to  the  northwest  and  at 
least  two  miles  in  extent.     While  this  change  of  base  was  being 
effected.  Gen.   Osterhaus  sent  forward  a  part  of  the  Third  Iowa 
and  detachments  from  various  Missouri  cavalry  regiments,  with 
two  guns  from  Wefley's  battery,  to  feel  the  enemy,  ascertain  his 
strength,  his  position  and  intentions.     Clear  and  shrill  the  bugles 
sounded  the  advance,  and  the  squadrons  crossed  the  fields  and 
entered  the  dense  timber  and  underbrush  on  the  north,  which  was 
crowded  with    masses   of   the  foe,   concealed  from    sight.       A 
dash  was   made  upon   a  force  discovered  in  front ;  a  portentous 
silence  pervaded  the  thickets  on  the  left,  which  masked  the  hosts 
preparing  to  spring  upon  our  devoted  band.     On  goes  the  charg 
ing  column,  not  seeing,  or  at  least  unmindful,  of  the  danger  lurk 
ing  near.       Suddenly,  like  a  blast  from  the  infernal  regions,  out 
of  the  quiet  thickets  flashed  volley  after  volley  into  the  passing 
squadrons,  while  a  body  of  mounted  Confederates  charged  upon 
the  flanks  of  our  column  of  cavalry  and  broke  it  in  two.     Officers 
and  gallant  soldiers  fell  like  leaves  in  Autumn,  their  blood  dyeing 
the  woodland  with  its  sanguinary  hue.      Horses  and  riders,  in 
ever  increasing   numbers,   thickly  strewed  the  field,  while  every 
horse  attached  to  the  guns  was  killed.     So  sudden  a  transition 
from  a  tilt  on  horseback,  to  the  position  of  targets  for  rebel  marks 
men,  concealed  in  the  dense  underbrush,  against  whose  withering 
fire   no  effective  resistance  could  be   made,   was  anything    but 


154  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

agreeable.  For  an  instant  the  column  paused  in  uncertainty ; 
then  suddenly  from  out  the  bloody  covert  swarmed  thousands  of 
Confederate  soldiers,  who  overwhelmed  both  cavalry  and  artillery, 
and  swept  their  disordered  ranks  from  existence.  The  dismounted 
Federals  dashed  into  the  brush  for  safety  and  were  met  by  the 
deadly  rifle,  the  uplifted  tomahawk  and  flashing  scalping  knife, 
in  the  hands  of  savage  Indians,  who  spared  none  that  fell  within 
their  merciless  'grasp.  Others  threw  away  their  arms,  spurred 
their  horses  through  the  ranks  of  their  enemies,  and,  plung 
ing  madly  across  the  field  in  a  disordered  flight,  imparted  a 
sensation  of  terror  to  the  infantry,  which  was  just  being  formed 
in  line  along  the  northern  boundary  of  the  cornfield.  The  inspir 
ing  words  or  stern  commands  of  officers  dispelled  the  panic  which 
was  seizing  them,  as  the  terror  stricken  fugitives  fled  to  the  rear. 
Of  the  three  hundred  men  who  entered  that  volcano  of  death, 
half  were  either  killed  outright,  made  prisoners,  or  left  writhing 
in  agony  upon  the  field.  In  less  than  five  minutes  from  the  time 
they  entered  the  timber  with  flaunting  pennons,  their  ranks  were 
broken,  and  a  wild  stream  of  frightened  fugitives  returned  with 
headlong  haste,  and  in  dire  confusion  disappeared  to  the  rear. 
The  Indians  who  had  taken  service  in  the  ranks  of  treason  ranged 
the  field  for  plunder,  and  subsequently  thirty  dead  heroes  of  the 
3rd  Iowa  Cavalry  were  found  divested  of  their  scalps.  Our  two 
guns  remained  in  the  enemy's  hands,  but  without  horses  they 
could  not  be  used  or  taken  away  through  the  underbrush. 

Lieut.  Col.  Joslyn,  as  cool  as  if  at  a  Fourth  of  July  celebra 
tion,  by  word  and  example  did  much  to  maintain  the  courage  and 
confidence  of  the  infantry,  and  forming  them  in  line  of  battle 
advanced  to  meet  the  yelling  savages  and  their  brutal  white  com 
panions  with  a  withering  fire  which  sent  them  howling  back  again 
to  the  cover  of  the  woods,  where  the  rapid  and  destructive  play  of 


GETTING    A    DECIDED    ADVANTAGE.  155 

artillery  kept  them  until  after  the  fall  of  their  leader,  Ben.  Mc- 
Culloch,  when  they  abandoned  this  portion  of  the  field  and  the 
left  was  clear  of  enemies.  In  the  midst  of  the  artillery  duel 
which  succeeded  the  operations  of  the  morning,  skirmishers 
advanced  to  the  scene  of  disaster  and  in  the  face  of  a  rattling  fire 
of  musketry,  brought  off  the  captured  guns  which  had  been 
abandoned,  and  dragging  them  across  the  field,  they  were  restored 
to  Capt.  Welfley,  and  soon  hotly  engaged  in  wiping  out  the  dis 
grace  of  the  morning,  by  hurling  shell  into  the  cowering  ranks 
of  the  foe. 

While  Sigel's  guns  were  thus  holding  the  enemy  in  check  and 
preserving  his  own  lines  intact,  a  column  of  rebel  infantry  was 
hurled  with  irresistible  fury  upon  Jeff.  C.  Davis'  lines  in  the 
center.  Desperately  the  men  of  Indiana  and  Illinois  stood  side 
by  side  fighting  to  maintain  their  position.  Wave  after  wave  of 
of  gray  infantry  were  met  and  rolled  back  among  the  hills,  only 
to  return  again  with  augmented  numbers  and  persistent  obsti 
nacy,  before  which  our  brave  boys  bent  beneath  the  murderous 
rush  of  bullets  which  howled  about  them  as  a  storm  howls  through 
the  harvest  fields  in  autumn.  The  wounded  creep  to  the  rear, 
while  some  of  the  best  and  bravest  lie  dead  upon  this  fatal  field. 
Slowly  our  troops  fall  back  a  few  yards  to  a  less  exposed  position, 
where  under  cover  of  timber  and  sheltering  inequalities  of  ground 
no  amount  of  hostile  lead  and  iron  can  move  them.  Before  our 
solid  ranks  and  galling  fire  the  enemy  faltered,  then  filing 
obliquely  to  the  right,  enveloped  Davison's  Peoria-battery,  and 
for  a  brief  period  hold  it.  They  swept  on  towards  the  left  when 
a  hot,  enfilading  fire  from  Osterhaus'  Division  and  from  Welfley's 
and  Hoffman's  guns  checked  their  further  progress.  Attacked 
in  flank,  in  front  and  rear,  they  could  not  stand,  and  the  dark 
masses  of  the  enemy  were  broken  and  melted  away  in  a  disorderly 


156  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

retreat.  The  Peoria-battery  was  retaken  by  the  men  of  Com 
pany  E  of  the  36th  Illinois,  and  was  soon  in  full  play  upon  the 
now  rapidly  vanishing  enemy.  The  center  recovered  its  former 
position,  and  the  left  and  center  remained  unbroken  in  the  place 
first  occupied,  interrupted  only  by  the  occasional  wail  of  a  shell 
as  it  came  arching  over  their  heads,  its  salutation  being  responded 
to  by  our  batteries  with  terrible  emphasis. 

These  demonstrations  upon  the  left  and  center  were  in  the 
main  mere  feints  on  their  part  to  divert  attention  from  the  right, 
which  was  their  main  object  of  attack.  Sheltered  by  the  range 
of  hills  west  of  the  Elk-Horn,  and  hidden  from  sight  by  the 
dense  timber  which  covered  them,  they  pressed  steadily  on  to 
the  telegraph  road,  silently  gaining  our  rear  and  cutting  off  all 
retreat  northward.  About  nine  o'ciock  in  the  morning  their 
advance  encountered  Col.  Phelps'  25th  Missouri  Regiment, 
whose  term  of  service  had  expired,  and  who  were  guarding  the 
stores  which  had  been  hastily  removed  to  the  Elk-Horn.  The 
25th  interposed  a  stubborn  resistance,  maintaining  their  ground 
until  the  transportation,  and  many  of  the  stores  were  removed 
to  a  place  of  greater  safety.  At  length  by  mere  weight  of  num 
bers  the  enemy  succeeded  in  dislodging  the  gallant  25th  from 
the  heights,  but  not  until  a  quarter  of  its  numbers  were  left  on 
the  slopes  to  attest  its  heroic  devotion.  The  remainder  of  Carr's 
Division  was  hurried  to  the  scene  of  threatened  danger,  and 
while  pressing  through  the  deadened  cornfields,  which  lay  at  the 
foot  of  the  cliifs,  it  came  in  contact  with  masses  of  the  enemy 
posted  at  the  foot  and  upon  the  rocky  heights,  who  received  them 
with  an  iron  shotted  salute  from  deep-mouthed,  rebel  guns,  planted 
on  elevations  commanding  all  the  approaches,  which  launched 
their  deadly  missiles  upon  Carr's  advancing  columns.  A  line  of 
battle  was  quickly  formed  in  the  woods  and  fields  adjoining  the 


BRAVEEY    OP   THE    IOWA   TROOPS.  157 

Elk-Horn,  the  right,  under  Col.  Dodge,  occupying  a  position  on 
slight  elevations  east  of  the  road,  overlooking  a  ravine  which  opened 
into  Cross  Timbers  Hollow.  The  enemy  soon  came  thronging 
up  this  ravine  to  the  attack,  but  Dodge's  artillery  held  them  in 
check  for  several  hours.  The  enemy  dragged  several  pieces  up 
the  slopes  of  the  opposite  acclivities  and  responded,  while  bodies 
of  infantry  pushed  their  way  through  the  broken  ascents  and 
tangled  underbrush  towards  our  batteries,  and  soon  all  were 
hotly^  engaged.  Volley  answered  volley  in  close  and  deadly  con 
flict,  but  without  definite  results  or  material  advantages  on  either 
side.  The  men  of  Iowa,  brave  and  determined,  maintained  their 
ground,  giving  not  an  inch,  though  the  attacking  force  was 
greatly  their  superior  in  numbers.  Col.  Dodge  was  everywhere 
present,  rallying  and  encouraging  his  men,  and  though  wounded, 
refused  to  quit  the  field.  His  ranks,  exposed  to  an  enfilading 
fire,  were  terribly  thinned,  yet  firm  and  undaunted  his  troops 
tenaciously  held  their  position  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when, 
failing  to  receive  support  and  the  brigades  to  his  left  having  been 
forced  back,  he  relinquished  the  ground,  consecrated  by  the  best 
blood  of  Iowa. 

Col.  Vandevere,  with  the  9th  Iowa  and  Dubuque  battery, 
occupied  the  road  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  Elk-Horn  Tavern. 
Here,  hour  after  hour  the  battle  raged  furiously,  the  enemy  con 
stantly  augmenting  their  attacking  columns,  arid  plunging  a 
tornado  of  shot  from  numerous  batteries  crowning  the  heights  to 
the  left  and  front.  Here  Price  and  Van  Dorn  in  person 
watched  the  progress  of  the  conflict,  and  concentrated  their 
heaviest  efforts.  The  rattle  of  musketry  was  terrible  and  con 
tinuous  ;  the  air  seemed  full  of  lead,  yet  the  cruel  music  of  these 
missiles  disturbed  not  the  equinimity  of  our  men.  From  every 
elevation  on  the  circuit  of  hills  rebel  batteries  rained  their  thun- 


158  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

derbolts  in  a  perfect  deluge  into  our  ranks  or  went  shrieking 
like  fiends  over  the  heads  of  the  men  who  bravely  clung  to  their 
position.  Backward  and  forward  the  battle  raged  as  temporary 
victory  or  defeat  crowned  the  efforts  of  the  opposing  armies. 
Lieut.  Col.  Herron,  of  the  9th  Iowa,  was  wounded,  and  taken  pris 
oner.  A  strong  rebel  column  forced  its  way  up  the  road,  and 
notwithstanding  great  gaps  were  made  in  their  ranks,  they 
charged  upon  the  Dubuque  battery  and  captured  some  of  its 
guns.  The  balance  were  withdrawn  and  occupied  another  posi 
tion,  from  whence  they  hurled  defiance  at  the  advancing  foe. 
While  the  guns  were  being  withdrawn,  a  caisson  filled  with 
ammunition  was  disabled  and  about  being  abandoned,  when  an 
artilleryman  threw  a  burning  quilt  into  the  ammunition  chest, 
which  in  a  few  minutes  exploded  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy  with 
a  thundering  crash,  as  though  all  the  explosive  elements  of 
earth  and  air  were  collected  there.  Bloody  clothing  and  mutil 
ated  remains  of  men  were  tossed  high  in  the  air,  and  hung  in 
gory  shreds  from  the  tree  tops,  or  were  scattered  mangled  and 
bleeding  over  the  ground.  It  was  reported  that  fifty  men  were 
either  wounded  or  killed  outright  at  this  point. 

When  Col.  Carr  found  he  had  the  main  Confederate  army  on 
his  hands,  he  speedily  notified  Gen.  Curtis  of  the  fact  and 
importuned  him  for  reinforcements.  Detachments  not  other 
wise  engaged  were  dispatched  to  his  assistance,  and  even 
the  General's  body  guard  and  light  howitzers  were  hurried  for 
ward  to  assist  in  holding  the  enemy  in  check  until  reinforcements 
could  be  brought  over  from  the  left,  where  the  contest  had  vir 
tually  ceased.  Desperate  charges  were  made,  followed  by  hand 
to  hand  fighting  at  close  range  and  with  the  bayonet,  in  which 
the  enemy  lost  nearly  all  the  ground  he  had  won.  Though 
temporarily  defeated,  they  were  speedily  reinforced  by  regiment 


VARIED  FORTUNES  OF  THE  DAY.  159 

after  regiment,  and  returned  to  the  assault  in  overpowering  num 
bers,  threatening  to  surround  and  annihilate  the  handful  of  brave 
men  who  stubbornly  contested  their  advance.  Carr  looked  on  his 
thinned  division  with  gloomy  forebodings  as  he  continued  to  fall 
back  towards  his  camp  of  the  morning.  Messengers  were  hur 
rying  from  head-quarters  to  the  different  division  commanders 
for  aid,  but  at  that  time  Davis  was  too  closely  pressed  to  spare  a 
single  regiment  or  gun.  Sigel,  after  the  death  of  McCulloch, 
was  confronted  only  by  light  detachments,  but  was  fearful  of 
another  attack,  and  hesitated  to  weaken  his  line  by  sending 
troops  to  the  right  until  peremptorily  ordered  to  do  so  by  Gen. 
Curtis.  Asboth,  with  the  greater  portion  of  his  division, 
marched  to  Carr's  assistance,  arriving  in  time  to  partici 
pate  in  a  charge  in  which  the  enemy  was  forced  back  a  half  mile 
to  the  Elk-Horn,  and  much  of  the  ground  lost  by  Carr  was 
recovered.  It  was  a  fierce  conflict,  in  which  both  sides  fought 
desperately  for  the  mastery,  and  the  losses  sustained  by  each 
were  severe.  Among  the  wounded  was  Gen.  Asboth,  who, 
though  severely  hurt,  remained  upon  the  field  in  command  of 
his  division.  At  a  later  period,  the  conflict  having  ceased  in  the 
center,  Jeff.  C.  Davis  sent  the  2nd  Ohio  battery  to  Carr's  assist 
ance,  which  rendered  good  service  until  darkness  put  an  end  to 
the  conflict,  this  battery  firing  the  last  shot  of  the  day. 

For  eleven  hours,  from  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  eight 
at  night,  the  conflict  raged  on  the  right  without  interruption. 
From  our  position  we  could  see  nothing ;  a  dense  cloud  of  smoke 
enveloped  the  field,  from  whence  rolled  up  to  us  the  awful  din 
of  battle.  Beneath  that  smoke  enwrapped  landscape  we  knew 
our  brothers  loyal  and  true,  were  fighting  for  the  good  cause,  but 
no  lines  of  gray  or  blue  uniformed  men  could  be  seen  or  move 
ments  of  troops  as  the  battle  surged  to  and  fro,  and  positions 


160  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

were  either  lost  or  won.  Long  after  darkness  had  canopied  the 
earth  the  bloody  tournament  continued ;  the  flashing  of  guns  as 
vivid  as  lightning,  the  deafening  war  reverberating  among  the 
hills,  formed  a  panorama  of  sights  and  sounds  never  to  be  for 
gotten. 

The  sun  was  sinking  below  the  horizon  when  the  36th  was 
ordered  to  the  right  to  support  the  bleeding  columns  that  were 
maintaining  the  desperate  conflict.  We  marched  to  a  cornfield 
contiguous  to  the  enemy's  position,  and  remained  there  until  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  No  fires  were  lighted,  for  we  knew  the 
enemy  was  near  in  unknown  numbers,  and  the  glimmer  of  the 
feeblest  spire  of  flame  might  light  us  on  to  destruction.  We 
heard  the  tread  of  their  sentries  and  the  low  hum  of  conversation 
but  a  few  yards  away,  and  subsequently  learned  that  five  Con 
federate  regiments  were  bivouacked  not  twenty  yards  distant. 
The  weary  men  lay  down  upon  the  damp  ground,  with  no  cover 
ing  except  the  hazy  sky,  and  slept  soundly,  though  chilled  by  the 
frosty  night  air.  On  the  left  a  glorious  victory  had  been 
achieved.  The  right,  though  shattered  and  driven  a  half  mile 
back  from  their  position  in  the  morning,  were  not  disheartened, 
and  with  a  lew  regiments  to  aid  their  stroke  might  be  able  to 
inflict  a  blow  that  would  be  fatal  to  rebel  hopes  of  victory.  But 
a  few  hundred  yards  intervened  between  the  two  armies  as  they 
lay  down  to  rest,  or  made  fresh  preparations  for  renewing  the 
struggle  in  the  morning.  The  dead  and  many  of  the  wounded 
were  left  where  they  fell.  Some  of  the  regiments  were  terribly 
reduced  in  numbers,  and  many  in  Carr's  division,  where  the 
conflict  had"  been  more  severe,  were  oppressed  with  doubts  as  to 
the  final  result.  The  night  was  rendered  more  sombre  by  the 
pitiful  braying  of  mules  and  horses,  which  for  twenty-four  hours 
had  been  without  forage  or  water.  Neither  had  the  men  tasted 


MIDNIGHT  AFTER  THE  BATTLE.  161 

food  or  water  since  the  early  morning,  and  between  hunger,  cold 
and  fatigue  were  not  in  exuberant  spirits. 

At  midnight  the  division  commanders  assembled  at  the  Com 
manding  General's  quarters,  and  reported  the  condition  and 
strength  of  their  respective  commands,  together  with  such  opin 
ions  and  advice  as  to  future  operations  as  their  present  condition 
and  previous  experience  suggested.  Carr  and  Asboth,  in  view 
of  their  thinned  ranks  and  the  rude  treatment  they  had  received, 
were  filled  with  gloomy  forebodings,  while  Davis,  Sigel  and  Oster- 
haus,  whose  losses  had  been  small,  were  hopeful  and  confident. 
From  the  verbal  reports  of  his  subordinates,  Gen.  Curtis  was 
able  to  grasp  the  whole  situation,  and  believed  that  by  a  contrac 
tion  of  his  lines  and  a  combined  effort  of  the  whole  army  upon 
the  heights  about  the  Elk-Horn,  the  contest  would  no  longer  be 
a  doubtful  one,  but  that  victory  would  speedily  result.  In  pur 
suance  of  this  object  all  the  troops  were  called  in  and  new  posi 
tions  assigned  which  embraced  a  line  of  battle  of  less  than  half 
the  extent  of  that  of  the  preceding  day. 

Accordingly  at  1  o'clock  A.  M.  the  order  was  passed  in  whis 
pers  to  proceed  to  the  telegraph  road,  and  we  silently  left  our 
position  in  the  field,  groping  our  way  among  the  deadened  corn 
stalks,  clambering  over  fences,  meandering  through  woods,  falling 
over  logs,  ascending  steep  hills  and  crossing  ravines,  until  after 
an  hour's  painful  marching  we  reached  the  road,  near  where  a 
muddy  rivulet  trickled  by.  We  rushed  to  the  banks,  and,  lying 
prostrate  upon  the  earth,  quaffed  great  draughts  of  the  precious 
beverage  and  found  refreshment  and  vigor  in  its  cooling  waters, 
the  whole  brigade  brightening  up  under  its  invigorating  influ 
ence. 

Soon  little  impromptu  camp  fires  were  blazing  in  the  hollows ; 
frying  pans  and  bake  kettles,  borrowed  from  other  commands, 


162  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

were  brought  into  requisition,  and  a  few  hastily  and  half-baked 
flap-jacks,  made  of  flour  and  water,  were  the  first  morsels  of 
food  which  had  passed  our  lips  for  nearly  twenty-four  hours. 
This,  in  a  measure,  appeased  our  ravenous  hunger,  after  which 
a  craving  for  rest  was  gratified  by  an  hour's  sleep  upon  the 
muddy  ground.  The  damp,  cold  air,  and  a  want  of  blankets 
and  sufficient  clothing,  rendered  this  a  most  chilly  and  restless 
affair.  This  dumping  down  by  the  roadside  is  not  suggestive  of 
special  comfort,  but  we  were  thoroughly  tired  out,  and  had 
reached  a  point  where  sleep,  however  uncomfortable,  was  a 
necessity. 

No  one  removed  his  sword  or  separated  himself  from  his  gun. 
Horses  stood  saddled,  ready  for  instant  service.  The  mules 
continued  their  braying.  Pickets  stood  with  eyes  and  ears  open, 
ready  to  give  warning  should  a  night  attack  be  attempted. 
Such  as  could  not  readily  close  their  eyes  in  sleep,  looked  up 
through  the  branching  tree  tops  to  the  sky  arching  over  all,  and 
the  stars  moving  calmly  on  their  appointed  way,  and  thought  of 
the  utter  absurdity  and  wickedness  of  this  whole  game  of  war. 
Within  an  area  of  two  square  miles  lay  thirty-five  thousand  men ; 
some  stiff  and  stark,  looking  with  visionless  eyes  up  into  the 
pitying  heavens  ;  some  tossing  in  agony  on  hospital  beds  or 
lying  maimed  and  bleeding  under  the  trees,  while  yet  other 
thousands  were  hugging  in  their  sleep  the  weapons  with  which 
to-morrow  they  were  to  renew  the  work  of  death.  Bound  up 
with  the  lives  and  safety  of  these  thousands  was  that  of  other 
thousands  at  the  home  firesides,  and  far  beyond  and  over  all  the 
fate  of  our  country.  And  here  comes  in  the  moral  and  patriotic 
elements  of  war,  to  which  animal  passions,  strength  and  skill 
must  be  subservient.  Looking  at  the  subject  in  this  light,  no 
doubts  disturb  us  as  to  our  duty  to  stand  up  and  fight  it  out  to 


SECOND  DAY  OF  THE  BATTLE.  163 

the  bitter  end;  and,  notwithstanding  our  contempt  and  horror 
of  war,  we  must,  in  view  of  all  the  mighty  interests  at  stake, 
feel  that  we  were  in  the  right  place  on  this  blood-stained  battle 
field.  With  such  thoughts  crowding  upon  the  brain,  sleep  comes 
at  length,  and  another  long  day  was  over. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

BATTLE  OP  PEA  RIDGE — SECOND  DAY. 

THE  morning  of  the  8th,  before  it  was  fully 
light,  we  were  aroused  and  homeopathic  doses 
of  flap-jacks  served  to  the  men,  who  then  pro 
ceeded  to  make  ready  for  whatever  hardship, 
trial  and  endurance  the  day  should  demand. 
The  smoke  of  yesterday's  conflict  hung  in 
drapery  folds  over  field,  woodland  and  mountain,  and  there  being 
no  breeze  to  drive  it  away,  the  sun  appeared  dim  and  red,  and 
shone  with  a  mellow  radiance  through  the  drifting  sheen. 

While  sitting  around  the  camp-fires,  and,  like  Tantalus  of  the 
classic  myth,  looking  and  longing  for  a  more  substantial  break 
fast  than  the  one  which  had  been  meted  out  to  us,  suddenly  from 
out  the  smoky  mist  came  the  report  of  a  cannon,  followed  by  a 
bursting  thunderbolt,  and  so  near  as  to  seem  within  the  pre 
cincts  of  the  camp.  Then  followed  explosion  after  explosion  in 
quick  succession,  while  whizzing  balls  and  fiery  shell  winged 


164  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

their  doleful  way  through  the  air,  clipping  the  leafless  twigs 
from  the  trees  just  over  our  heads  and  striking  a  hundred  yards 
beyond.  Our  batteries  galloped  up  the  road,  the  guns  were 
unlimbered,  the  horses  brought  back  fifty  paces  to  the  rear,  and 
in  an  instant  roared  forth  an  answer  to  the  morning  salutation 
accorded  us.  Shot  answered  shot,  and  battery  after  battery 
mingled  in  the  thunders  of  the  hour. 

Their  guns  lowered,  their  range  and  shot  were  dropping  within 
the  bounds  of  camp,  too  uncomfortably  near  to  render  our  posi 
tion  one  of  entire  safety.  A  shell  exploded  in  the  midst  of  a 
camp-fire,  around  which  a  score  of  the  men  of  Company  K  were 
sitting,  and  flaming  brands,  earth  and  ashes  were  scattered  pro 
miscuously  over  the  dismayed  and  startled  group,  who  sud 
denly  recollected  that  they  had  urgent  business  in  other  portions 
of  the  wood. 

Swiftly  from  regiment  to  regiment  the  order  was  passed  to 
advance.  The  men  sprang  to  their  feet,  grasped  their  muskets 
and  fell  into  the  moving  lines.  Field  officers,  worn  out  by 
fatigue,  roused  themselves,  were  soon  in  the  saddle,  at  the  head 
of  columns  with  which  the  woods  seemed  alive,  all  moving  in 
perfect  order  towards,  and  not  away  from  the  enemy. 

The  Second  Brigade,  including  the  36th  Illinois,  formed  by 
the  roadside;  its  field  officers  lead  the  way,  and  hurrying  up  the 
road  it  neared  the  sulphurous  field  where  the  continuous  roll  of 
cannon  told  us  that  no  idle  hands  were  at  the  work.  Leaving 
the  road,  we  filed  to  the  left  and  passed  close  along  the  rear  of 
batteries  planted  in  the  edge  of  the  fields  and  pouring  a  respons 
ive  fire  to  the  guns  of  the  enemy,  which  from  the  heights  looked 
frowningly  down  upon  us.  Behind  the  batteries  and  iu  the  edge 
of  the  timber  large  bodies  of  troops  were  forming  in  line  of  bat 
tle,  and  as  we  rushed  past  them  at  a  double  quick,  cheer  upon 


COOLNESS    OF    GENERAL    SIGEL.  165 

cheer  greeted  and  encouraged  us.  We  moved  up  a  wooded  slope, 
while  on  galloped  the  batteries  to  the  top  of  the  ascent ;  then 
wheeling  to  the  north  we  entered  the  field,  and  advancing  in 
line  over  the  rough  ground  a  hundred  yards  or  more,  the 
guns  were  un limbered  and  added  their  thunders  to  the  volcano 
of  noise,  causing  the  very  earth  to  tremble.  Our  line  was 
formed  on  the  left  of  those  already  on  the  ground  ;  regiment 
after  regiment  arrived  arid  were  added  to  the  blue  line  of  infantry 
stretching  away  to  the  left,  while  at  frequent  intervals  batteries 
were  planted,  and  at  once  it  seemed  as  if  a  mile  of  sheeted 
lightning  was  leaping  from  black-mouthed  cannon  and  a  murder 
ous  rush  of  hissing  missiles  hurled  into  the  dense  masses  of  the 
enemy  who  were  now  in  plain  sight  before  us.  Never  were  guns 
more  admirably  handled  than  those  which  all  along  the  line  were 
shaking  the  earth  with  one  continuous  and  tremendous  peal  that 
seemed  the  prolonged  howl  of  a  hundred  thunder  storms  mingled 
into  one  There  were  moments  when  the  firing  would  slacken, 
when,  perhaps,  a  single  gun  away  off  to  the  right  or  left  would 
be  heard  ;  then  the  roar  of  half  a  dozen  in  succession,  so  quick 
that  each  succeeding  wave  of  sound  lapped  on  the  preceding  one. 
Then  the  lapping  would  become  indistinguishable,  and  the  whole 
forty  guns  would  be  wreathed  in  volumes  of  smoke  and  flame, 
the  thunders  of  each  merged  in  one  terrific  volume. 

In  this  sulphurous  atmosphere  Sigel  was  perfectly  at  hotae, 
and  utterly  regardless  of  the  balls  which  were  hailing  around 
him,  he  rode  from  battery  to  battery,  encouraging  the  men  and 
giving  his  directions  as  coolly  as  if  on  parade.  Dismounting 
from  his  horse,  he  personally  sighted  the  pieces,  directed  where 
to  fire,  and  by  his  example  induced  the  gunners  to  redouble 
their  efforts,  thus  sweeping  the  ground  with  such  an  incessant 


166  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

storm  of  iron  that  the  enemy  dared  not  advance  in  a  decisive 
charge  across  the  open  fields. 

But  our  batteries  had  not  an  entire  monopoly  of  the  awful 
thunders  of  the  day.  The  fatal  precision  with  which  the  enemy's 
shot  came  tearing  through  our  ranks  told  us  that  the  opposing 
batteries  were  not  handled  by  novices  in  the  art  of  war.  The 
infantry  were  ordered  to  lie  down  on  their  arms  a  few  yards  in 
rear  of  the  artillery;  and  while  lying  thus  upon  their  faces, 
closely  hugging  the  ground  in  vain  endeavors  to  escape  the  storm 
of  shot  which  was  raining  around,  a  solid  shot  ricochets  over 
the  field  and  through  the  dry  corn  stalks,  and  passing  within  a 
few  inches  of  Col.  Greusel's  bead,  for  a  moment  paralyzed  and 
forced  him  half  way  to  the  earth;  then  with  a  dull  thud  it 
plunged  in  the  midst  of  Company  E,  and  was  buried  a  foot 
beneath  the  surface,  in  its  passage  killing  private  Ray  instantly. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  the  rebel  lines  were  shaken  by 
the  superior  accuracy  of  our  fire,  and  save  an  occasional  shot, 
one  after  another  of  their  batteries  were  silenced.  One,  how 
ever,  situated  in  front  of  a  belt  of  timber  near  the  Elk-Horn, 
persistently  kept  up  the  cannonade,  with  scarcely  a  moment's 
intermission  for  three  hours,  directing  its  fire  upon  the  right  of 
our  line,  firing  shell  and  round  shot  with  immense  rapidity  and 
such  good  aim  that  most  of  the  casualties  in  this  part  of  the 
field  were  caused  by  this,  Woodworth's  Arkansas  battery. 

As  the  enemy's  fire  began  to  slacken,  skirmishers  were  sent 
out,  and  the  whole  line  advanced  until  the  now  wavering  ranks 
of  the  enemy  were  within  close  range,  when  the  batteries  again 
opened  upon  them  with  terrible  effect.  They  abandoned  the 
fields  and  swarmed  up  the  heights  to  the  rear  of  the  first  position, 
which  was  fairly  blackened  with  their  batallions,  pouring  a 
heavy  fire  of  musketry  down  upon  the  unprotected  heads  of  our 


FLIGHT    OF    THE    CONFEDERATE    ARMY.  167 

skirmishers  as  they  advanced  gallantly  to  the  foot  of  the  rocky 
battlements  in  splendid  order,  their  long  ranged,  rifled  minnies 
doing  fearful  execution  at  a  distance  which  the  squirrel-rifles 
and  double-barreled  shot-guns  of  the  enemy  could  not  reach. 
At  10  o'clock  A.  M.  the  Confederate  forces  seemed  to  be  breaking 
up  and  scattering  in  every  direction,  and  whenever  a  flying 
squadron  could  be  detected  within  range,  a  few  shells  launched 
in  their  midst  would  give  an  additional  impetus  to  their  flight, 
while  cheer  upon  cheer  went  up  from  our  ranks  as  we  saw  them 
wildly  scatter  on  receipt  of  a  message  from  the  guns. 

A  rocky  and  almost  inaccessible  point  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
in  front  was  persistently  held  against  all  efforts  of  the  skirmish 
ers  to  dislodge  them.  Then  the  guns  were  elevated  and  screaming 
shells  bursting  in  their  midst  scattered  masses  of  earth  and  rock 
mingled  with  the  shattered  remains  of  men  and  horses  which 
were  tossed  in  the  air  and  lodged  in  the  branches  of  the  trees. 
Not  long  could  they  stand  the  storm  which  swept  them  as  with 
the  besom  of  destruction,  arid  those  who  survived  the  wholesale 
massacre  sought  shelter  from  the  deadly  effect  of  the  guns  by 
retreating  into  the  woods  and  down  the  opposite  slopes.  We 
were  told  that  at  this  point  two  shells  bursting  in  the  center  of 
a  compact  mass  of  human  beings,  killed  and  wounded  sixty  of 
their  number.  The  line  then  rapidly  advanced,  cheering  as  they 
went,  the  whole  army  wild  with  a  delirium  of  joy.  Our  right 
encountered  a  scattering  fire  of  musketry  which  rather  acceler 
ated  than  impeded  the  charge,  and  then  the  last  remains  of  the 
rebel  army  were  put  to  flight.  Battle  flags,  guns  and  prisoners 
were  taken,  but  not  a  hostile  shot  broke  in  upon  the  shouting 
which  rent  the  air. 

The  36th  Illinois  reached  the  foot  of  the  rocky  parapet,  -the 
last  strong-hold  occupied  by  the  enemy,  its  precipitous  sides  pre- 


168  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

senting  an  impassible  barrier.  But  to  the  left  a  narrow  passage 
was  found  by  which  the  cliffs  were  scaled  and  their  summits 
reached.  Great  God !  what  a  scene  was  there  presented !  The 
mangled  trunks  of  men  lay  thickly  scattered  around,  and  so  close 
as  to  require  the  utmost  care  to  avoid  stepping  on  their  cold 
remains.  From  each  tree  or  sheltering  nook  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  arose,  wrhile  muskets,  saddles,  horses,  blankets,  hats  and 
clothes,  hung  in  shreds  from  every  bush  or  in  gory  masses  cum 
bered  the  ground.  Then  ten  thousand  wild  cheers  from  valley 
and  hill-top,  from  field  and  wood-land,  proclaimed  the  victory 
ours. 

As  we  moved  down  the  northern  slopes  of  the  ridge  we  found 
the  smouldering  camp-fires,  remains  of  half  eaten  breakfasts, 
sacks  of  flour,  sides  of  bacon,  blankets,  old  hats,  guns,  and  other 
paraphernalia  pertaining  to  soldiers,  scattered  about  the  woods  in 
wild  confusion.  What  remained  of  the  evening's  repast  was 
devoured  by  our  hungry  men,  who,  seizing  upon  everything  eat 
able,  greedily  crammed  it  down  their  throats  as  they  marched 
along.  Reaching  the  telegraph  road,  the  two  wings  of  the  army 
met  at  the  head  of  Cross  Hollows,  and  officers  and  men  shouted 
themselves  hoarse.  Gladness  beamed  from  every  countenance ; 
all  were  feeling  well.  Sigel's  eye  had  a  less  nervous  and  more 
joyous  twinkle  than  when,  an  hour  ago,  he  was  sighting  the  guns 
which  had  caused  the  wrecks  lying  all  around  us.  Asboth's  stoic 
face  for  once  was  wreathed  with  smiles ;  and  Osterhaus,  never 
more  jolly  or  at  home  than  on  the  battlefield,  was  overflowing 
with  encomiums  upon  "  der  prave  poys,"  and  expressions  of 
entire  satisfaction  with  the  result ;  while  towering  over  all  was 
the  massive  brow  and  stalwart  form  of  noble  Curtis,  who,  in  sten 
torian  tones,  congratulated  the  army  upon  the  glorious  victory  it 
had  achieved,  and  ordered  a  swift  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy. 


THE  PURSUIT  AND  BATTLE  FIELD.  169 

In  the  gladness  which  ruled  the  hour,  the  wrecks  of  humanity 
thickly  scattered  in  field  and  wood  were  not  neglected ;  and  Federal 
soldiers  shared  the  contents  of  their  canteens  with  thirsty  wounded 
Confederates.  The  fierce  passions  which  animated  them  an  hour 
before,  while  panting  for  each  other's  blood,  had  subsided,  and 
pity  for  the  maimed  supplanted  the  feelings  of  hate  and  fury. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE    PURSUIT    AND    BATTLE-FIELD. 

if 

/jlHORT  were  the  moments  allowed  for  congratula 
tion,  for  Sigel  was  ordered  to  continue  the  pur 
suit  on  the  Keitsville  road,  up  which  a  consid 
erable  force,  with  that  portion  of  their  artillery 
which  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in  saving,  were 
in  full  retreat.  At  every  side  ravine  and  forest 
path  little  detachments  filtered  away  from  the  demoralized  rabble 
surging  in  terror  through  Cross  Timbers  Hollow,  leaving  by  the 
wayside  muskets,  blankets,  and  every  possible  article  which  could 
encumber  their  flight,  so  that  on  their  arrival  and  passage  through 
Keitsville  scarcely  enough  men  remained  to  drive  the  horses 
attached  to  the  guns. 

12 


170  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Three  days  of  constant  fighting,  the  weary  watches  of  the 
succeeding  nights,  the  heat,  dust,  fatigue,  and  above  all,  the  hun 
ger  of  the  men  composing  the  pursuing  column,  rendered  the 
forced  march  of  twelve  miles  extremely  tiresome  and  depressing ; 
and  with  all  the  efforts  we  were  able  to  put  forth,  the  retreating 
squadrons  of  the  Confederate  army  could  not  be  overtaken. 
Night  coming  on.  we  bivouacked  in  the  valley  a  short  distance 
below  Keitsville.  and  hungry,  cross  and  supperless,  stretched  our 
weary  limbs  upon  the  ground  and  slept  soundly. 

The  march  was  resumed  the  next  morning  and  continued  to 
Keitsville;  the  36th  having  in  charge  three  or  four  hundred 
rebel  prisoners  who  had  been  captured  at  various  periods  in  the 
progress  of  the  battle.  Among  them  was  Col.  Hebard,  of  the 
3rd  Louisiana,  and  Billy  Price,  a  nephew  of  the  Confederate 
general,  then  a  member  of  the  so-called  Confederate  Congress. 
His  answers  to  the  multitude  of  questions  with  which  his  captors, 
Yankee  like,  assailed  him,  were  sharp,  intelligent,  and  as  keen 
as  a  rapier.  By  this  time  all  hopes  of  overtaking  the  enemy 
were  abandoned.  The  prisoners  were  sent  to  Springfield  under 
guard,  while  the  command  retraced  its  steps  to  the  valley  and 
halted  during  a  severe  rain  storm,  which  saturated  our  clothing, 
filled  the  rivulets  to  overflowing,  and  changed  the  road  to  a 
quagmire. 

We  were  here  joined  by  Major  Conrad,  with  his  detachment, 
which  had  left  Cassville  in  the  morning,  Company  F  again  taking 
its  position  in  the  regiment.  The  arrival  of  a  provision  train 
under  their  escort  was  most  opportune,  and  it  was  good  to  see 
with  what  thorough  zest  and  enjoyment  the  half  famished  soldiers 
devoured  their  hardtack  and  bacon.  After  the  storm  had  sub 
sided,  we  proceeded  to  Pea  Ridge  and  encamped  in  the  woods  on 


BURYING   THE    DEAD.  171 

the  banks  of  a  rivulet,  the -cooling  waters  of  which  had  satiated 
our  thirst  on  the  night  of  the  7th. 

How  it  was  possible  for  the  whole  vast  Confederate  army  to 
slip  so  completely  through  our  fingers  with  the  capture  of  only  a 
few  hundred  stragglers,  was  a  matter  of  surprise  to  all,  for  at  the 
time  the  last  gun  was  fired,  vast  numbers  were  observed  scatter 
ing  in  every  direction  and  vanishing  among  the  hills.  Although 
the  pursuit  was  instantaneous,  no  considerable  numbers  were 
afterward  seen,  and  from  seven  to  eight  hundred  comprised  all 
the  prisoners  captured  during  the  engagement,  not  including  the 
wounded  who  were  left  in  our  hands. 

Meanwhile  burial  parties  were  detailed  from  the  various  regi 
ments,  who  traversed  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  late  battle 
field,  to  its  remotest  corners  and  where  the  hottest  fury  of 
man's  wrath  had  expended  itself,  gathering  up  the  remains  of 
the  dead  and  putting  them  quietly  away  to  rest  side  by  side  in 
common  and  nameless  graves.  Along  the  position  occupied  by 
Dodge's  brigade,  and  all  through  the  cornfields  about  the  Elk- 
Horn,  where  Carr  had  so  long  maintained  the  fearful  contest, 
thickly  lay  the  defaced  and  broken  human  caskets,  emptied  of  all 
that  made  them  manlike,  and  so  blackened,  repulsive  and  dis 
torted  as  scarcely  to  retain  a  semblance  of  humanity. 

The  ground  was  thickly  strewn  with  arms,  knapsacks,  cartridge 
boxes,  clothing,  the  carcasses  of  horses,  and  thousands  of  shot 
and  shell.  Go  where  you  would,  through  field,  wood,  ravine  or 
over  mountain,  the  walk  would  be  amid  the  debris  of  battle  and 
the  dead,  until  the  heart  grew  sick  and  faint  with  horror.  Here 
was  a  lifeless  trunk,  the  head  of  which  had  been  blown  entirely 
away ;  the  limbs  of  some  were  torn  from  the  bodies,  while  others 
were  perforated  with  shot.  So  ended  the  career  of  hundreds, 
the  beloved  of  many  a  sad  and  breaking  heart,  who  were  buried 


172  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

with  no  headstones  to  mark  the  place  where  rest  their  sleeping 
ashes. 

Climbing  the  rocky  citadel  behind  the  Elk-Horn,  where  our 
broadsides  swept  their  ranks  with  destruction,  scores  of  Confed 
erate  dead  lay  in  every  conceivable  attitude ;  some  grasping  their 
muskets  with  a  look  of  stern  defiance  indelibly  stamped  upon 
their  faces,  while  the  features  of  others  told  of  the  horror  and 
despair  which  filled  their  souls  when  the  fatal  missile  struck  them. 
Some  lay  in  positions  of  calm  repose,  the  expression  of  their 
countenances  calling  forth  words  of  tenderness  and  respect  from 
the  burial  parties,  who  knew  that  away  off  yonder  in  some  South 
ern  home  the  heart  of  wife  or  mother  was  wrung  with  anguish 
over  the  sad  results  of  this  fearful  game  of  war.  Not  for  these 
mangled  forms  need  we  reserve  our  pity,  but  for  the  broken  home 
circles,  of  which  the  cold  remains  before  us  once  formed  a  valued 
link.  The  widow,  the  orphan,  the  lover,  these  claim  our  pity, 
sorrow  and  tears. 

Aside  from  the  dead,  the  whole  plateau  bore  fearful  evidences 
of  the  severity  of  the  strife.  In  the  wood  every  tree  was  pierced 
with  shot  or  cut  with  bullets,  gashed  and  scarred  as  if  riven  by 
the  fiercest  lightning.  Some  were  bereft  of  branches,  and  the 
trunks  of  others,  more  than  two  feet  in  diameter,  penetrated 
through  and  through.  Not  a  fence  remained,  not  a  building,  but 
was  wrenched  from  its  foundation  with  bursting  shell,  or  scarred 
and  battered  with  bullets;  not  a  field  but  that  been  plowed  with 
artillery,  its  soil  moistened  with  the  life-blood  of  heroes,  or  trod 
den  by  armed  and  desperate  men — no  spot  but  that  carried  its 
mute  testimonial  of  the  awful  conflict  which  for  two  days  raged 
over  the  now  historic  field  of  Pea  Ridge. 

Soon  after  the  termination  of  the  conflict  a  flag  of  truce  was 
received  from  Van  Dorn,  accompanied  by  a  burial  party,  asking 


A   COMPLETE   SURPRISE.  173 

permission  to  collect  and  bury  their  dead,  and  the  request  was 
granted — a  task,  which,  from  the  rugged  nature  of  the  country, 
the  wide  range  of  the  conflict,  and  the  dense  thickets  where 
many  had  crawled  away  to  die,  was  rendered  particularly  difficult. 

Our  pursuing  columns  had  not  yet  returned,  and  but  few  knew 
of  the  presence  of  this  party.  The  next  day,  while  numbers  of 
men,  by  permission,  were  ranging  the  fields  and  woodland  in 
search  of  lost  comrades,  or  to  gratify  an  inordinate  curiosity  and 
collect  mementoes  of  their  first  battle,  they  came  suddenly  upon 
the  Confederate  burial  party ;  mistaking  them  for  the  advance 
guard  of  an  armed  force,  they  broke  for  camp,  franticly  shouting 
as  they  ran  that  the  Rebels  were  upon  us  in  countless  numbers. 
Quickly  the  alarm  spread  to  other  parties,  and  soon  the  whole 
vast  concourse  of  stragglers  were  madly  rushing  through  the 
cornfields  and  brush  from  every  quarter  toward  their  respective 
camps.  The  bugles  sounded  the  alarm ;  drums  beat  to  arms ; 
lines  of  battle  were  formed ;  batteries  wheeled  into  position ; 
cavalry  horses  saddled  ready  for  instant  use,  and  officers  with 
field  glasses  galloped  hither  and  thither  to  reconnoitre  the  coun 
try  and  determine  the  strength  of  the  approaching  force. 

No  surprise  was  ever  more  complete  than  that  which  came  over 
our  terrified  men  whose  imaginations  magnified  the  numbers  of 
the  peaceable  burial  party  in  the  quiet  performance  of  their 
humane  task,  into  countless  thousands  of  infuriated  enemies, 
thirsting  for  Federal  blood.  This  ripple  of  excitement  having 
passed  away,  the  equinimity  of  the  men  was  restored,  and  they 
proceeded  quietly  to  the  performance  of  their  respective  duties. 

Hospital  tents  were  erected  in  eligible  positions  convenient  to 
wood  and  water,  where  the  wounded  were  collected  and  their 
sores  began  to  heal  under  the  assiduous  attention  of  the  Surgeons. 
The  wounded  of  the  36th  were  gathered  at  Leetown,  some  in 


174  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

tents,  others  in  a  vacant  storehouse,  and  volunteer  nurses  from 
every  company  watched  over  and  ministered  to  their  wants. 

Our  losses  in  the  series  of  engagements  at  Bentonville  and 
Pea  Ridge  numbered  1351  men,  of  which  203  were  killed. 
Among  the  wounded  were  Gen.  Asboth  and  Col.  Dodge,  while 
Cols.  Chandler  and  Herron  were  wounded  and  taken  prisoners. 

The  enemy's  loss  in  killed,  according  to  the  reports  of  the 
burial  parties,  was  about  600.  Many,  however,  of  their  severely 
wounded,  who  crawled  to  secluded  corners  in  the  thickets  and 
died,  were  not  found,  and  for  weeks  their  festering  corpses  tainted 
the  air  and  furnished  food  for  birds  and  beasts  of  prey.  Among 
their  unburied  dead  were  seventy  Indians,  whose  atrocities  on  the 
field  of  battle  were  too  keenly  remembered  for  us  to  administer 
the  rites  of  sepulture,  and  as  their  white  allies  did  not  do  it,  their 
flesh  served  as  food  for  crow's,  their  bones  scattered  and  left  to 
whiten  in  the  sun. 

Among  their  dead  were  Generals  McCulloch,  Mclntosh, 
Clarkson  and  Slack,  and  many  officers  of  lesser  note. 

The  following  comprised  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  36th 
Illinois. 

COMPANY    A. 

Charles  G.  Cox,  shot  in  the  thigh. 

COMPANY  B. 

Ernest  Ansorg,  wounded.  C.  M.  Kemble,  wounded. 

George  Miller,  wounded.  Wm.  L.  Campbell,  wounded. 

James  Eddy,  wounded.  Robert  N.  Thompson,  wounded. 

Thomas  Boyd,  wounded.  Oliver  Brownlee,  wounded. 
Wm.  Van  Ohlen,  wounded. 

COMPANY    C. 

John  H.  Harris,  killed.  William  P.  Criswell,  arm,  slightly. 

William  M.  Gibson,  arm  shot  off. 

COMPANY    D. 

Andrew  Scofield,  arm,  severely. 

COMPANY    E. 

Ira  Fuller,  killed.  John  Ray,  killed. 


LIST    OF    KILLED    AND    WOUNDED.  175 

COMPANY    F. 

Paul  Stevenson,  killed.  Abel  Christopherson,  shot  in  leg 

Walter  E.  Partridge,  shot  in  arm. 

COMPANY    G. 

Sergt.  J.  A.  Dispennet,  shot  in  leg.  Thomas  Olson,  killed. 

Corp.  Win.  M.  Stitt,  shot  in  ankle.  Lewis  Jones,  shot  in  leg. 

David  Bard  well,  shot  in  thigh.  Charles  Pratt,  shot  in  arm. 

Alexander  Stitt,  shot  in  lungs.  Seth  Slyter,  shot  in  heel. 

Edward  Lyon,  shot  in  leg.  Franklin  Small,  shot  in  arm. 

Thomas  Malcolm,  shot  in  hand.  John  Corkins,  shot  in  arm. 
Dison  Clark,  shot  in  ankle  and  arm. 

COMPANY    H. 

Orrin  Pickett,  killed.  Alviu  Bunker,  wounded  in  thigh. 

Cornelius  Kimplin,  killed  Jackson     Conroe,     wounded     in 

Charles  E.  Owels,  wounded  in  foot.         shoulder. 

COMPANY    1. 

Frederick  Witzkie,  wounded.  Michael  Manning,  wounded. 

COMPANY    K. 

Sam'l  McCartney,  wounded  in  head.     Henry  Holmes,  wounded  in  arm. 
Benj.  Simmons,  wounded  in  arm.         Frances  Sampson,  wounded  in  leg. 
Jas.  McCrarey,  wounded  in  side.          Edw'd  May  berry,  wounded  in  leg. 
Total,  six  killed  and  thirty-two  wounded. 

The  following  extract  from  the  report  of  Col.  Greusel,  com 
manding  the  Second  Brigade,  gives  a  complete  summary  of  the 
part  taken  by  the  36th  Illinois  in  connection  with  the  other  reg 
iments  participating  in  the  actions  of  Bentonville  and  Pea  Ridge, 
which  was  dated  at  Pea  Ridge  March  12th,  1862,  and  directed 
to  Col.  Osterhaus,  commanding  the  First  Division. 
COL.  GREUSEL'S  REPORT. 

MARCH  6TH. — I  received  your  order  to  march  the  brigade  back 
to  your  assistance  from  Sugar  Creek  about  2  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  and  immediately  halted  the  regiments  and  batteries  on  the 
road  and  marched  them  back  on  the  double  quick  about  three 
miles,  where  I  found  you  hotly  pursued  by  the  cavalry  and 
artillery  of  the  enemy.  I  formed  the  36th  Illinois  regiment  in 
line  of  battle  until  you  gave  the  order  to  fall  back  slowly  for  a 
mile,  where  I  reformed  four  companies  in  ambush  and  marched 
the  other  six  companies  one  mile  east  and  formed  them  in  line. 


176  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  enemy  having  given  up  the  pursuit,  I  re-formed  the  regiment 
and  marched  to  camp  on  Sugar  Creek,  the  12th  Missouri  Vol 
unteers  bringing  up  the  rear,  under  Major  Wanglin,  whose  horse 
was  wounded  in  the  retreat. 

MARCH  TTH. — I  received  your  orders  at  8  o'clock  A.  M.,  and 
marched  two  regiments  of  infantry,  Capt.  Hoffman's  battery  and 
three  twelve-pound  howitzers  of  Capt.  Welfley's  battery  in  an 
open  field  or  farm  a  little  north  of  Leetown,  where  I  formed  the 
36th  Illinois  regiment  on  the  left,  Hoffman's  battery  next  on  the 
right,  the  12th  Missouri  on  the  right  of  Hoffman's  .battery. 
Three  pieces  of  Welfley's  battery  supported  by  Company  E  of 
the  36th  Illinois. 

Previous  to  the  arrival  of  my  command  on  the  field,  the  3rd 
Iowa,  the  1st  Missouri  cavalry  and  the  Benton  Huzzars,  with  two 
pieces  of  Welfley's  battery,  had  charged  the  cavalry  and  infantry 
of  the  enemy  in  a  cleared  field  about  half  a  mile  from  our  posi 
tion.  Just  as  the  36th  Illinois  Volunteers  got  into  line,  and 
while  the  12th  Missouri  was  forming,  the  cavalry  commenced  a 
precipitate  and  disorderly  retreat  which  threatened  a  general 
stampede.  It  was  a  critical  moment,  and  on  the  courage  and 
firmness  of  the  infantry  depended  our  success.  The  officers,  by 
their  good  example,  inspired  confidence  in  the  men,  the  36th 
Illinois  and  12th  Missouri  standing  their  ground  like  veteran 
soldiers  and  preventing  a  disgraceful  rout.  Two  pieces  of  artillery 
arid  one  of  Welfley's  howitzers  were  left  on  the  field,  but  Capt. 
Welfley  succeeded  in  spiking  them  before  he  retired.  These 
pieces  were  afterwards  recovered  by  Company  E  of  the  36th 
Illinois  Volunteers. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  men  attached  to  these  guns  were 
compelled  to  leave  them  by  our  own  cavalry,  who  rode  down, 
indiscriminately,  men  and  horses,  eight  of  Welfley's  men  having 
been  severely  injured  by  them.  At  the  moment  the  last  of  our 
cavalry  left  the  field,  I  opened  a  brisk  fire  of  shell  and  shot  in 
the  bushes  occupied  by  the  enemy,  which  prevented  them  from 
following  up  the  retreat  of  the  cavalry.  This  fire  was  kept  up 
for  an  hour  and  returned  by  them. 


COL.  GREUSEL'S  REPORT.  177 

At  this  time  my  attention  was  directed  to  a  high  and  steep 
hill  on  my  right  and  about  a  mile  distant  from  our  line.  I 
believed  it  to  be  the  place  selected  by  the  Confederate  command 
ers  from  which  to  direct  the  movements  of  their  troops  and  to 
reconnoitre  ours.  I  directed  Lieut.  Beneca's  section  of  Wel- 
fley's  battery  to  shell  that  point,  causing  them  to  disperse  in 
double  quick  time. 

My  attention  was  now  called  to  several  regiments  of  infantry 
in  our  front  and  immediately  opposite  the  36th  Illinois  Volun 
teers,  whereupon  I  threw  out  Companies  B  and  G  of  that  regi 
ment  as  skirmishers.  These  companies  crossed  the  field,  and  on 
entering  the  timber  discovered  the  enemy  in  ambush — three  reg 
iments  drawn  up  in  line  and  others  formed  in  square,  evidently 
expecting  another  attack  from  our  cavalry.  A  rapid  fire  was 
opened  up  by  the  enemy  and  returned  by  the  skirmishers,  which 
was  kept  up  for  fifteen  minutes.  Finding  that  they  were  wasting 
ammunition  to  but  little  purpose,  the  skirmishers  retired  in  good 
order,  with  a  loss  of  twenty  wounded — thirteen  in  Company  G 
and  seven  in  Company  B. 

It  was  during  this  skirmish  that  an  officer  on  horseback,  who 
afterwards  was  found  to  be  Gen.  Ben.  McCulloch,  was  shot  dead 
by  Peter  Pelican,  of  Company  B  of  the  36th  Illinois  Volunteers. 
The  dress  worn  by  the  officer  was  a  black  velvet  coat,  vest  and 
pants,  long  boots  and  white  felt  hat. 

After  the  skirmishers  retired  I  ordered  shot  and  shell  to  be 
sent  among  the  ambushed  enemy,  and  then  moved  the  36th  Illi 
nois  Volunteers  forward,  but  the  enemy  retreated  to  a  fence  and 
thick  underbrush,  from  whence  they  were  shelled  and  scattered 
in  great  confusion.  After  the  enemy  fled  I  returned  with  the 
command  to  its  first  position. 

At  this  time  the  37th  Illinois  Volunteers,  which  were  formed 
to  my  right,  was  attacked  with  great  fury,  and  a  heavy  fire  of 
musketry  poured  into  the  ranks  of  the  18th  and  22nd  Indiana 
regiments.  This  fire  was  returned  by  them  in  conjunction  with 
the  12th  Missouri,  which  did  good  execution  and  at  last  forced 
the  enemy  to  retire  with  great  loss.  The  36th  Illinois  and  12th 


178  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Missouri  then  skirmished  the  woods  and  fields  over  an  area  of  a 
mile  square,  taking  several  prisoners,  after  which,  in  accordance 
with  your  orders,  I  removed  my  command  to  a  field  about  two 
miles  in  advance  of  our  position  of  the  morning,  where  we 
remained  until  midnight,  when  your  orders  were  received  to 
inarch  to  the  Keitsville  road,  where  we  remained  until  the  next 
morning.  My  command  having  had  nothing  to  eat  or  drink  for 
near  twenty-four  hours,  and  neither  shelter  or  blankets  during 
the  night,  suffered  greatly  from  fatigue  and  exposure. 

MARCH  STH. — At  7  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  enemy  having  com 
menced  firing  shot  and  shell,  I  received  your  orders  to  "fall  in," 
and  marched  to  an  open  field  about  a  mile  in  advance,  where  I 
formed  my  command  in  the  following  order:  Welfley's  battery 
on  the  right,  joined  by  the  12th  Missouri  ;  Hoffman's  battery 
and  the  36th  Illinois  on  the  left,  in  close  column,  by  divisions. 
Having  been  informed  that  a  cavalry  attack  would  be  made  upon 
us,  we  were  prepared  at  any  moment  to  form  a  square. 

The  enemy  fired  shot  and  shell  while  we  were  forming,  and 
kept  up  a  heavy  fire  for  about  two  hours,  which  was  briskly 
returned  by  our  batteries  until  the  rebel  guns  were  silenced  or 
ceased  firing.  After  this  I  discovered  several  regiments  of  the 
enemy's  infantry  on  the  high  hills  in  advance,  and  directed  two 
companies  from  the  12th  Missouri  and  from  the  36th  Illinois, 
which  I  increased  to  four  from  each  of  these  regiments,  to  skir 
mish  the  fields  and  hill  slopes.  The  skirmishers  advanced  in 
splendid  style  and  drove  the  enemy  before  them,  those  of  the 
12th  Missouri  capturing  three  guns  and  a  very  fine  silk  Confed 
erate  flag  from  the  Dallas  battery. 

At  this  time  (10  o'clock  A.  M.)  the  17th  Missouri  joined  the 
brigade  and  the  whole  command  moved  forward,  skirmishing  to 
the  telegraph  road,  repulsing  the  enemy,  taking  a  number  of 
prisoners  and  guns,  a  quantity  of  ammunition,  flour  and  salt. 
From  this  advanced  point,  in  accordance  with  your  order,  we 
followed  up  the  repulsed  and  retreating  rebel  army  rapidly  for 
eight  or  ten  miles,  when  we  went  into  camp  for  the  night.  After 
this  we  saw  no  more  of  the  rebel  army,  they  having  dispersed  in 
all  directions  as  they  fled  before  our  victorious  columns. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

CONRAD'S  EXPEDITION — RECUPERATING. 

OR  A  number  of  days  prior  to  the  advance  of 
the  main  Confederate  army,  roving  mounted 
bands  of  reckless  men  traversed  the  country 
and  showed  great  activity  in  their  predatory 
incursions.  Now  they  were  hovering  about 
our  flanks,  menacing  the  camps,  harassing 
foraging  parties,  picking  up  stragglers,  and  perhaps  the  succeed 
ing  day  or  night  the  same  bands  would  be  heard  from  far  in  our 
rear,  vexing  the  posts  or  trains  and  interfering  with  our  com 
munications.  A  thousand  rumors  were  rife  of  an  intended 
advance  in  force,  but  the  report  which  gained  most  credence  was 
to  the  effect  that  large  numbers  of  Price's  followers  were  drifting 
back  into  Missouri,  passing  our  flank  along  the  State  line  road 
for  the  purpose  of  demonstrating  on  our  line  of  communication. 
The  night  attack  upon  Keitsville,  the  acts  of  lawlessness  and  of 
murder  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cassville,  together  with  the  appar 
ent  ease  with  which  these  marauders  traversed  the  woods,  hills 
and  valleys  in  the  perpetration  of  their  outrages,  strengthened 
and  gave  color  to  such  a  belief. 


180  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

To  gain  definite  information  of  these  reported  movements, 
Major  Conrad,  of  the  3rd  Missouri  Cavalry,  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  a  reconnoitering  expedition,  with  a  force  of  six  companies 
of  infantry,  a  section  of  artillery  and  sixty  cavalry.  They  pro 
ceeded  from  the  camp  near  Bentonville  on  the  morning  of  the 
5th  of  March.  Among  the  troops  detailed  for  the  expedition 
was  Company  F  of  the  36th  Illinois  Volunteers. 

The  weather  was  just  cold  enough  for  comfortable  marching, 
the  roads  in  excellent  condition  and  the  men  in  fine  spirits.  The 
first  day's  march  of  twenty-five  miles  was  accomplished  without 
fatigue  or  hardship.  The  general  course  pursued  was  south 
westerly  and  west,  and  on  the  second  day  they  reached  the  line 
road  between  Arkansas  and  the  Indian  Country,  which  they  fol 
lowed  to  Marysville,  a  straggling  border  village  of  some  note, 
inhabited  by  a  mixture  of  whites  and  Cherokee  Indians.  The 
fine  prairies  of  this  region  was  a  welcome  sight  to  the  men  from 
Illinois,  who  were  reminded  of  their  homes  in  their  own  loved 
prairie  State. 

Little  squads  of  mounted  horsemen,  the  outlying  pickets  of 
the  rebel  advance,  were  observed  skurrying  over  the  country, 
like  the  mist  which  heralds  the  storm,  and  was  the  occasion  of 
some  lively  little  cavalry  chases,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  six 
prisoners  during  the  day.  But  no  information  was  gained  of 
the  movement  then  going  on,  until  the  arrival  of  a  messenger 
from  Sigel,  telling  them  of  the  danger  which  menaced  them,  and 
ordering  a  rapid  return  to  Bentonville.  In  attempting  to  execute 
that  order  the  command  suddenly  found  themselves  nearly  sur 
rounded  by  largely  superior  numbers,  but  favored  by  the  woods 
and  inequalities  of  the  country  they  finally  succeeded  in  extri 
cating  themselves  from  the  trap  into  which  they  had  unwittingly 
entered. 


MAJOR  CONRAD'S  EXPEDITION  IN  DANGER.  181 

A  rapid  retreat  into  Missouri  was  now  their  only  chance  for 
escape,  and  by  making  wide  detours  through  the  woods,  follow 
ing  unfrequented  paths  and  winding  among  the  hills,  they  man 
aged  to  elude  the  enemy  who  ranged  the  country  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  battle-field,  where  a  fierce  contest  was  raging  within  hear 
ing  and  almost  within  sight  of  their  line  of  retreat.  All  attempts 
at  reaching  the  command  being  thwarted,  the  expedition  directed 
its  march  towards  Keitsville.  All  day  of  the  7th  the  thunder 
of  cannon  was  wafted  to  their  ears,  and  although  they  were  but 
a  few  miles  away  from  where  the  conflict  was  raging,  the  whole 
rebel  army  lay  between  them  and  their  comrades,  which  it  was 
madness  to  attempt  to  pass  through.  Learning  something  of 
the  strength  of  the  enemy  and  position  of  the  combatants  from 
the  inhabitants  of  the  country,  the  command  reluctantly  retired 
to  Keitsville  and  ultimately  to  Cassville.  The  arrival  of  trains 
with  stores  for  the  army,  accompanied  by  strong  escorts,  swelled 
the  force  at  Cassville  to  one  thousand  men,  a  majority  of  whom 
were  clamorous  to  be  led  against  the  enemy  and  force  their  way 
to  the  main  command. 

Later  in  the  day  a  slight  demonstration  was  made  upon  the 
pickets  and  one  of  them  killed,  which  somewhat  cooled  the  ardor 
of  those  madcaps,  who  in  -the  morning  professed  to  be  "spoiling 
for  a  fight."  Other  parties  were  seen  at  a  distance,  and  it  was 
thought  quite  possible  that  those  who  wished  to  exercise  their 
shooting  propensities  could  be  gratified  without  leaving  Cassville. 
The  muttering  of  cannon  at  Pea  Ridge,  which  was  distinctly 
heard,  intensified  the  excitement,  while  the  absence  of  news  from 
the  scene  of  conflict  caused  a  state  of  feverish  anxiety  and  sus 
pense  nearly  as  trying  to  the  mind  and  body  as  though  mingling 
in  the  dread  realities  of  the  battle-field.  Rumors  of  a  Federal 
victory  reached  Cassville  during  the  night,  which  were  confirmed 


182  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

in  the  morning ;  when  the  command  set  out  for  Sugar  Creek 
in  charge  of  the  provision  trains,  joining  Sigel's  column  at  Cross 
Timbers,  the  whole  proceeded  to  Pea  Ridge;  the  detachment 
having  marched  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in  five  days,  without 
the  loss  of  a  man  or  gun. 

The  unwholesome  atmosphere  at  Pea  Ridge,  caused  by  the 
putrefying  remains  of  hundreds  of  dead  horses,  induced  Gen. 
Curtis  to  remove  head-quarters  as  well  as  the  whole  army  to 
Camp  Stevens,  in  the  valley  of  Sugar  Creek,  while  Bentonville 
was  occupied  by  a  portion  of  Davis's  Division.  Our  cavalry 
penetrated  to  Fayetteville  without  opposition,  and  without  seeing 
a  hostile  face  or  hearing  an  unfriendly  word.  Foraging  parties 
ranged  and  partially  ravaged  the  country  westward  to  the  Cher 
okee  line,  and  north  to  Pineville  and  beyond,  without  in  a  single 
instance  being  molested.  The  late  Confederate  hosts  had  melted 
away  like  frost  before  the  sunshine,  had  abandoned  the  country, 
while  their  leaders,  gloomy  and  dejected,  had  tied.  Price  to  Fort 
Smith,  and  Van  Dorn  to  Batesville  and  Jacksonport,  with  only 
shadowy  remnants  of  their  once  confiding  but  now  despondent 
followers.  Rebellion  had  received  a  stunning  blow,  and  for  the 
time  being  all  surface  indications  proclaimed  the  sudden  collapse 
of  treason  in  Missouri  and  North-western  Arkansas. 

Arrangements  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners  were  effected,  by 
which  means  Lieut.  Walker  and  twenty-six  enlisted  men  of  Com 
pany  B  returned  to  duty.  They  reported  that  from  the  officers 
and  many  of  the  men  they  received  courteous  and  kindly  treat 
ment,  while  others  heaped  upon  them  the  most  violent  abuse. 

The  flight  of  the  Confederates  after  the  battle  was  as  rapid 
arid  tumultuous  as  their  consternation  and  dismay  could  make 
it.  All  broke  for  the  woods,  over  the  hills  and  through  thickets, 
avoiding  the  roads  and  each  other  as  much  as  possible.  It 


ARRIVAL    Of    REINFORCEMENTS.  183 

seemed  like  a  wild  scamper,  each  endeavoring  to  reach  Van 
Buren  first.  While  the  prisoners  were  being  hurried  along,  a 
squad  of  fugitives  rushed  by,  when  one  of  our  boys  cried  out, 
" Hello,  stranger  ;  Bull  Run  number  two,  aint  it?"  "  No,  sir, 
by  G —  this  is  A  number  one,"  was  the  response. 

In  a  few  days  many  of  the  slightly  wounded  returned  to 
duty,  while  those  more  seriously  hurt  were  removed  to  Cassville, 
and  when  sufficiently  recovered  to  stand  the  journey,  conveyed 
in  ambulances  to  Rolla,  and  from  thence  to  their  homes  with  an 
honorable  furlough.  Others  languished  upon  beds  of  pain  and 
were  brought  very  near  to  the  gates  of  death, %  perhaps,  after 
months  of  intense  agony,  to  be  turned  out  upon  the  world  broken 
a-nd  maimed,  a  mere  wreck  of  former  manhood. 

Among  the  reinforcements  which  came  to  supply  the  losses  of 
battle  and  the  waste  of  the  campaign,  was  the  18th  Illinois  Vol 
unteers  and  the  3rd  Missouri  Infantry,  altogether  adding  to  our 
numbers  more  than  sufficient  to  repair  the  losses  we  had  sustained. 

An  advance  into  Arkansas  from  our  present  position  was  for  a 
time  contemplated  and  preparations  made  accordingly,  but  the 
spring  rains  setting  in,  the  roads  became  fearfully  cut  up,  ren 
dering  it  next  to  impossible  to  move  the  trains.  To  transport 
supplies  and  maintain  the  long,  slender  line  of  communication  for 
any  greater  distance  from  our  base  at  Rolla  into  a  country  already 
exhausted,  was  too  hazardous  to  attempt.  Added  to  this,  rumors 
were  current  of  the  concentration  of  a  Confederate  force  at 
Pocahontas  for  the  invasion  of  South-eastern  Missouri,  which 
induced  Gen.  Curtis  to  withdraw  the  command  into  Missouri,  to 
a  position  favorable  for  movements  in  any  direction.  Accord 
ingly  head-quarters  were  removed  to  Cross  Timbers,  the  different 
regiments  dotting  the  country  with  their  camps  from  Keitsville 
to  the  Arkansas  line. 


184  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

During  the  few  days  of  quiet  which  succeeded  the  fatigue  and 
excitement  of  the  battle,  the  most  extravagant  and  untruthful 
reports  prejudicial  to  officers  were  circulated  through  the  camps 
and  became  topics  of  common  conversation.  One  which  origin 
ated  among  the  German  soldiers  was  to  the  effect  that,  at  the 
close  of  the  second  day's  fighting,  after  Carr  had  been  forced 
back,  Gen.  Curtis  became  despondent,  and  at  the  subsequent 
meeting  of  officers,  at  midnight,  announced  his  determination  to 
surrender.  That  it  required  all  the  influence  of  Sigel  to  dissuade 
him  from  that  purpose.  That  thereupon  Gen.  Curtis  turned  over 
the  command  ,to  Sigel,  and  it  was  under  his  supervision  and 
leadership  that  victory  was  snatched  from  an  apparent  defeat. 
This  report  was  readily  believed  by  many  in  the  army,  was  pub 
lished  in  the  newspapers  and  scattered  broadcast  over  the  country. 
So  general  was  the  belief  in  the  truth  of  the  report,  that  Col. 
Vandevere,  a  personal  friend  of  Gen.  Curtis,  who  knew  the  utter 
absurdity  and  want  of  truth  in  the  story,  directed  a  letter  of 
enquiry  to  Gen.  Sigel,  who  promptly  responded,  as  follows : 

HEAD-QUARTERS  IST  AND  2ND  DIVISIONS,          1 
KEITSVILLE,  Mo.,  MARCH  27,  1862.  j 

GENERAL  : — It  is  with  great  displeasure  that  I  have  read  the 
letter  of  Col.  Vandevere  to  Capt.  Curtis,  your  A.  A.  G.,  and  I 
will  do  all  in  my  power  to  find  out  the  author  of  an  assertion 
which  is,  as  far  as  I  know,  untrue.  You  did  never  give  the  com 
mand  of  the  army  to  me,  and  I  regard  it  as  a  calumny  if  it  is 
said  that  you  spoke  in  my  presence  about  surrendering.  This 
I  declare  on  my  honor,  and  hope  that  the  officers  and  soldiers  of 
this  army  will  do  what  they  can  to  preserve  the  mutual  good 
feeling  and  good  understanding  amongst  us,  instead  of  creating 
animosities  by  forwardness  and  misrepresentation. 

I  am,  General,  with  the  greatest  respect,  yours  truly, 

F.  SIGEL,  Brig.  Gen. 
Major  Gen.  S.  R.  CURTIS, 

Commanding  army  of  S.  W. 


RUNNING   FLOUR    MILLS    FOR   THE   ARMY.  185 

Now  that  all  personal  animosities  have  subsided,  and  the  object 
of  these  calumnies  is  dead  and  gone  to  his  reward,  we  feel  sure 
that  before  the  impartial  tribunal  of  history,  the  verdict  of  a 
grateful  people  will  be  that  Gen.  S.  R.  Curtis  was  not  found 
wanting  in  courage  and  patriotism  in  the  hour  of  trial. 

Considerable  quantities  of  grain  yet  remained  in  the  country, 
which  was  taken  to  the  mills  and  ground  for  the  subsistence  of 
the  troops.  It  was  necessary  to  guard  these  mills  to  prevent 
maraudering  bands  from  interrupting  our  sources  of  supply. 
For  this  purpose  Companies  A  and  C,  with  detachments  from 
other  regiments,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Joslyn, 
were  sent  to  Gadfly,  where  extensive  mills  were  situated,  which 
were  kept  running  night  and  day. 

A  scouting  party  from  Gadfly  penetrated  the  country  to  Granby, 
the  center  of  lead  mining  operations,  where  had  been  produced 
vast  quantities  of  lead  for  the  use  of  the  Confederate  army. 
The  people  were  known  to  be  intensely  hostile,  but  not  an 
adult  male  was  found  at  home.  Of  women  and  children  there 
were  no  lack,  who  represented  that  the  town  was  inhabited  entirely 
by  war  widows  and 'orphans,  who  with  mournful  pathos  repeated 
the  story  of  their  bereavement.  One  of  the  soldiers,  of  an 
inquiring  turn  of  mind,  while  peering  around  the  mines  for  min 
eral  specimens,  or  for  contraband  articles  of  war,  accidently  cast 
a  stone  into  one  of  the  shafts,  that  fell  to  the  bottom  with  a  dull 
dead  thud,  as  if  striking  a  softer  substance  than  solid  rock. 
Immediately  a  howl  of  distress  and  pain  came  up  from  the 
dark  depths  of  the  mine.  In  answer  to  a  summons  to  come  forth, 
a  gaunt,  long-haired  Missourian  emerged  from  the  earth.  The 
hillsides  were  honeycombed  with  mineral  shafts,  and  by  probing 
them  with  rocks  they  were  made  to  yield  up  the  mortal  remains 
of  the  husbands  of  many  of  Granby 's  fair  widows,  who  had  not 

13 


186  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

so  much  as  a  "  thank  you,  sir,"  for  restoring  their  once  dead,  now 
living  husbands  to  their  arms.  In  this  way  a  number  of  the 
aiders  and  abettors  of  treason  were  hunted  from  the  holes  and 
marched  as  prisoners  to  the  Federal  lines. 

The  hardships  of  the  campaign  told  fearfully  upon  the  health 
of  many  of  the  officers,  who  were  granted  leaves  of  absence  "and 
returned  for  a  short  period  to  their  homes.  Among  these  were 
Gen.  Sigel  and  Col.  Dodge,  whose  slight,  physical  frames  were 
riot  proof  against  the  excitement  of  mind  and  privation  of  body 
they  had  been  subjected  to.  These  officers  for  their  gallant  deeds 
were  promoted  to  higher  grades  of  rank,  and  subsequently 
assigned  to  more  important  fields  of  action.  Indeed,  Pea  Ridge 
was  a  harvest  field  of  honors  to  meritorious  officers,  and  the 
mails  came  laden  with  promotions  and  commissions  for  those 
whose  fame  had  been  trumpeted  to  the  War  Department  at  Wash 
ington. 

Gen.  Curtis  was  raised  from  Brigadier  to  the  rank  of  Major 
General  of  Volunteers.  Likewise  Gen.  Sigel,  who  was  assigned 
to  an  important  command  in  West  Virginia.  Those  promoted 
to  Brigadiers  were  Cols.  Dodge,  Osterhaus,  Heron.  Benton, 
Jeff.  C.  Davis  and  Carr.  Among  the  officers  of  the  36th  Illi 
nois  who  had  had  enough  of  war,  was  Capt.  Camp,  of  Company 
I  and  Lieut.  Wilson,  of  Company  F,  who  resigned  their  commis 
sions  and  left  the  service  forever,  their  places  being  filled  by  0. 
B.  Merrill  to  the  vacant  Captaincy,  and  George  G.  Biddolph  to 
the  position  of  Lieutenant. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

FROM  KBITS VILLE  TO  CAPE  GIRARDEAU. 

HE  long,  tedious  march  of  the  army  of  the 
South-west  through  Southern  Missouri  and  to 
Batesville  in  Arkansas,  commenced  April  5th, 
the  36th  Illinois  being  among  the  first  to  break 
camp  and  push  on  with  the  advance,  reaching 
Cassville  at  11  A.  M.  and  proceeding  nearly 
due  east  from  thence,  through  a  sparsely  settled  and  mountainous 
country  among  the  spurs  of  the  Ozarks,  reaching  Flat  Creek  and 
camping  on  its  banks  near  its  junction  with  the  James  river  on 
the  evening  of  the  6th.  The  streams  were  all  high  and  rapid, 
their  waters  cold,  and  clear  as  crystal.  Flat  Creek  was  crossed 
on  a  bridge  of  wagons  at  Cape  Fair,  as  was  the  James  at  Galena, 
late  on  the  evening  of  the  7th.  Companies  A  and  C  marching 
from  Gadfly,  overtook  and  joined  the  regiment  on  the  7th. 

The  people  inhabiting  this  gloomy  and  forebidding  region  of 
chert  hills  and  pine  forests  were  mostly  loyal  and  Union-loving 
men,  who  had  contributed  generously  to  the  ranks  of  the  loyal 
Missouri  regiments.  In  the  dark  dayt<  of  rebel  domination, 
when  the  whole  South-west  was  overrun  with  McCulloch's  des 
peradoes  and  Price's  maraudering  hordes,  the  Union  men  of 


188  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Stone  and  Barry  Counties  combined  their  forces  and  successfully 
resisted  all  attempts  to  coerce  them  into  the  heresy  of  secession. 
The  skin  clad  mountaineers,  who  almost  from  the  cradle  had  been 
taught  the  use  of  fire  arms,  hesitated  not  to  use  them  when  the 
hated  minions  of  secession  penetrated  their  narrow  valleys  for 
conscription,  plunder  or  mischief.  Some  of  our  most  daring 
scouts  and  trusty  guides  were  from  the  poor  but  loyal  inhabitants 
of  this  mountain  region,  pre-eminent  among  which  was  Charles 
Galloway,  subsequently  Major  in  the  1st  Arkansas  Cavalry. 

The  first  sight  which  greeted  the  eyes  of  Gen.  Curtis  upon 
his  arrival  at  Galena,  the  county  seat  of  Stone  County,  was  a 
cloud  of  smoke  and  crackling  flames  from  a  burning  building 
belonging  to  a  loyal  Union  man,  that  had  been  fired  by  some 
of  the  German  troops  in  Osterhaus'  Division,  who  were  in  the 
advance.  The  General  was  indignant  at  such  a  wanton  and 
unprovoked  outrage,  and,  notwithstanding  it  was  nearly  night 
and  a  cold  storm  setting  in,  he  ordered  the  division  to  cross 
the  river,  where  they  were  at  liberty  to  indulge  their  house  burn 
ing  propensities  upon  the  grim  forest  trees.  The  36th  being 
attached  to  this  division  was  included  in  the  order,  and  as  might 
have  been  expected  there  was  some  grumbling  and  many  hard 
things  said  of  "Old  Curtis"  as  they  crossed  the  ice  cold  stream 
in  the  darkness,  exposed  to  the  pelting  of  rain  and  sleet ;  and  it 
was  ten  o'clock  before  the  tents  were  pitched  and  the  men  shel 
tered  from  the  storm. 

The  army  reached  Forsyth,  the  county  seat  of  Taney  County, 
situated  on  the  north  bank  of  White  river,  April  10th.  The 
line  of  march  from  Cassville  was  through  a  country  of  the 
most  weird  and  uninviting  character,  generally  over  the  crests  of 
mountains,  now  winding  along  stupendous  ridges,  skirting  ravines 
of  dizzy  depths,  then  up  abrupt  ascents  or  between  vast  heights 


CAVALRY   SCOUTING   FOR   DESPERADOES.  189 

and  along  the  rocky  channels  of  mountain  torrents,  the  towering 
hills  scantily  clothed  with  a  scraggy  growth  of  oak  or  crowned 
by  scattering  pines,  which  moaned  in  the  wind  like  the  sad  notes 
of  a  funeral  anthem.  From  the  summits  of  some  of  the  higher 
elevations  a  vast  panorama  of  mountain  waves,  valleys,  streams, 
rocks  and  woodland  was  presented  to  the  enraptured  view. 

The  arrival  of  Col.  Hassendible,  of  the  17th  Missouri,  was 
the  cause  of  Col.  Greusel  being  relieved  from  the  command  of 
the  2nd  Brigade,  that  officer  outranking  the  latter.  The  unso 
phisticated  volunteer  unacquainted  with  military  etiquette  could 
scarcely  reconcile  with  his  ideas  of  right,  the  sweeping  changes 
which  were  sometimes  made,  by  which  officers  who  had  led  in 
fatiguing  marches  and  commanded  in  desperate  engagements, 
gave  place  to  those  whose  distinguishing  traits  were  absence 
from  places  of  danger  and  the  sterner  duties  of  the  campaign. 

During  the  occupation  of  Forsyth  the  cavalry  were  engaged 
in  scouting  the  country  and  ferreting  out  bands  of  desperadoes 
that  were  wont  to  call  themselves  "  Price's  men,"  who  depredated 
upon  the  surrounding  country  with  a  degree  of  malignity  unpar 
alleled  in  the  annals  of  crime.  A  detachment  of  the  3rd  Illinois 
Cavalry,  under  Lieut.  Col.  McCrellis,  proceeded  to  Talbot's 
ferry,  near  the  mouth  of  the  north  fork  of  White  river  in 
Arkansas,  and  destroyed  the  saltpetre  works  in  that  neighbor 
hood.  Every  boat  had  been  removed  and  secreted  in  such  a 
manner  that  only  a  small  dismounted  detachment  was  able  to 
cross  the  river  in  a  "  dug  out ;"  they  dispersed  the  Rebel  guard, 
broke  up  the  steam  engine,  kettles  and  other  property,  and  then 
fired  the  buildings,  making  a  complete  wreck  of  everything  per 
taining  to  the  works,  without  a  single  casualty  or  mishap  to  the 
command. 


190  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

A  part  of  the  4th  Iowa  Cavalry  proceeded  down  White  river 
in  the  direction  of  Yellville,  breaking  up  the  ferries  and  other 
appliances  for  crossing  the  stream ;  in  the  execution  of  this  a 
number  of  sharp  encounters  occurred  with  the  enemy,  in  one  of 
which  a  Lieutenant  was  shot,  and  in  a  day  or  two  died.  His 
comrades  buried  the  remains  on  the  crest  of  a  hill,  in  the  midst 
of  a  pine  forest  in  Douglas  County,  Missouri. 

Heavy  provision  trains  came  lumbering  over  the  mountains 
from  Springfield,  together  with  reinforcements  of  troops,  which 
joined  the  command  at  Forsyth;  among  them  was  the  4th  Iowa 
Cavalry,  a  full  and  well  equipped  regiment  of  twelve  hundred 
men. 

On  the  16th  of  April  the  march  was  resumed  in  the  midst  of 
a  rain  storm,  the  column  headed  eastward,  through  Tariey.  Ozark 
and  Douglas  Counties,  to  West  Plains  in  Ilowell  County.  Day 
after  Jay  the  rain  came  pouring  down  in  unmeasured  quantities. 
The  country  Avas  deluged,  the  streams  filled  to  overflowing,  ren 
dering  a  detour  necessary,  far  up  among  the  hills  towards  their 
sources,  to  enable  the  army  to  cross  the  roaring  torrents.  The 
passing  of  men,  horses  arid  vehicles  over  the  execrable  roads 
soon  mixed  the  spongy  soil  into  mortar,  through  which  plashed 
the  slow  moving  columns  of  mud-incased  horses  and  men  at  the 
rate  of  less  than  a  mile  an  hour.  A  march  of  ten  miles  a  day 
was  all  that  could  be  accomplished  by  the  light  armed  troops, 
while  batteries  were  with  difficulty  dragged  along  by  doubling 
up  their  usual  teams,  and  came  plowing  up  the  mud  in  the  rear, 
often  not  reaching  camp  until  late  at  night. 

While  storrn -bound  in  one  of  these  camps,  an  old  man,  bowed 
with  the  weight  of  years,  accompanied  with  two  buxom  daugh 
ters,  entered  the  camp  on  horseback,  with  the  enquiry  : 

;i  Whar's  the  Gineral  ?" 


AN  OLD  PATRIOT  IN  CAMP.  191 

Being  directed  to  head-quarters  the  old  man  dismounted,  and 
grasping  the  hand  of  Gen.  Curtis  he  thus  addressed  him : 

"  Gineral,  I've  rid  twelve  miles  to  see  yer.  I  fit  with  old 
'•  Jackson  at  Orleans,  an  it  does  my  old  eyes  good  to  see  yer 
"  follerin  arter  the  bravest  man  that  ever  fout,  an  a  holdin  up 
'•  the  old  flag  as  he  did.  My  name's  William  J.  Dotson,  an  I'm 
.  "  risin  of  eighty-five  years  old,  but  I  can  give  as  ginuine  a  hur- 
"  raa  for  the  kentry  as  when  I  was  a  youngster.  We've  had  it 
'•  mighty  tough  down  here ;  them  secession  cusses  hev  stole 
"  mighty  nigh  all  we've  got,  drat  em,  an  the}r've  been  ravin  an 
"  a  tearing  around  right  smart.  They've  threatened  to  shoot 
"me,  but  as  I'm  already  too  old  to  hev  any  business  above  sod, 
"  I  tell  em  to  shoot  and  be  dogond.  They  hung  Jack,  and  they 
'•  druv  Sam  away  from  hum,  but  the  gals  are  with  me  yit ;  and 
"  when  the  dogoned  secession  skunks  pull  down  the  flag  that  I 
"  always  keeps  a  wavin  from  my  cabin,  I  hev  the  gals  sew 
<4  another  one  together  an  set  it  flyin  agin.  But  now  I've  seen 
'•you'ons  I  can  go  hum  and  die  contented.'' 

And  thus  the  old  patriarch  beguiled  a  pleasant  hour  with 
the  General  in  detailing  his  experience  with  the  "  dogoned 
secesh."  The  whole  staff  was  impressed  with  the  venerable 
appearance  of  the  old  man,  and  began  to  think  that  these 
rocks,  hills  and  barren  wastes  might  after  all  be  worth  fighting 
for,  as  long  as  such  sterling  patriots  were  left  to  cheer  and  bless 
our  efforts. 

The  36th  Regiment  remained  for  a  number  of  days  encamped 
at  Lyon's  Mill,  the  owner  of  which,  being  a  Union  man,  gladly 
allowed  his  mill  to  be  run  in  the  interest  of  his  country.  By 
this  delay  they  escaped  much  of  the  rain  and  bad  roads  which 
the  advance  divisions  encountered,  and  in  three  days'  time 
marched  as  far  as  the  other  divisions  had  in  ten,  overtaking  the 


192  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

main  command^at  the  crossing  of  the  north  fork  of  White  river. 
While  on  the  march,  winding  through  the  deep  valleys  and 
traversing  the  pine  clad  hills,  universally  prevalent  in  this 
poverty  stricken  country,  a  private  of  Company  I,  named 
Martin  Rinehart,  sickened  and  died,  and  was  buried  by  the  road 
side  in  the  depths  of  the  gloomy  forest,  away  from  the  sight  of 
man,  with  nothing  but  the  wailing  pine  to  stand  guard  and  watch 
over  his  lonely  forest  grave. 

A  halt  of  two  days  was  made  at  Salem,  the  county  seat  of 
Fulton  County,  Arkansas,  to  rest  and  recover  from  the  fatigues 
of  the  previous  march.  The  little  town  of  Salem  nestled 
romantically  among  the  verdure-clad  hills  of  Northern  Arkan 
sas,  smiling  in  the  unfolding  beauties  of  spring.  An  isolated 
peak  to  the  north  of  the  village,  called  Pilot  Hill,  arose  like  a 
sugar  loaf  to  the  height  of  five  hundred  feet.  A  view  from  its 
summit,  over  an  undulating  region  of  hills,  vales,  blooming  prai 
ries  and  smiling  woodland,  amply  repaid  for  the  fatigue  of  the 
ascent.  The  climate  was  delightful ;  the  weather  warm  and 
spring-like,  the  sky  clear  and  bright,  and  the  groves  were  vocal 
with  the  melody  of  a  thousand  songsters.  Overcoats  were  no 
longer  needed,  and  the  men  were  permitted  to  turn  them  over, 
together  with  all  superfluous  clothing,  to  the  Quarter-Master,  a 
privilege  which  many  gladly  availed  themselves  of.  Our  pres 
ence  aroused  quite  a  latent  Union  sentiment,  which  had  until 
now  been  forced  into  silence,  and  many  were  the  congratulations 
which  greeted  our  march  through  the  country. 

A  detachment  under  Gen.  Asboth,  composed  mostly  of  cav 
alry,  with  a  battery  of  light  artillery  and  a  few  regiments  of 
infantry,  among  which  was  the  36th  Illinois,  left  Salem  at  three 
p.  M.  May  1st,  and  pushed  rapidly  forward  towards  Batesville, 
with  the  intention  of  surprising  and  capturing  a  Rebel  force 


DISPERSAL    OF    COLEMAN'S    MAURAUDERS.  193 

reported  to  be  there,  under  the  command  of  the  notorious  Col. 
Coleman.  Gen.  Curtis  accompanied  the  expedition,  while  the 
remainder  of  the  army  were  to  follow,  the  succeeding  day, 
in  a  more  leisurely  manner.  The  advance  entered  Batesville 
and  took  quiet  possession  of  the  town  on  the  morning  of  the  3rd 
of  May,  capturing  a  half  dozen  Confederates,  who  were  not 
apprised  of  our  presence  until  summoned  to  surrender.  A  large 
amount  of  sugar,  rice  and  other  stores  fell  into  our  hands. 

Col.  Coleman  was  encamped  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
and  a  few  of  his  men  were  seen,  as  the  cavalry  came  sweeping 
through  town,  who  took  to  their  heels  and  imparted  infor 
mation  of  our  presence  to  their  commander.  Coleman  soon 
made  his  appearance  with  one  or  two  hundred  ragged  brigands 
at  his  heels,  who,  posting  themselves  behind  trees,  logs  and  an 
old  store  house,  opened  a  rapid  fire  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river,  but  at  too  long  a  range  to  be  effective.  A  howitzer  was 
brought  up  and  Bowen  tossed  over  a  few  shell,  which  sent  them 
flying.  They  were  observed  to  carry  away  four  of  their 
number,  either  killed  or  wounded,  while  no  one  was  injured  on 
our  side. 

Batesville  was  by  far  the  most  important  town  that  had  as  yet 
fallen  into  our  hands.  The  streets  were  wide  and  airy,  with 
good  sidewalks,  and  well  built  up  with  substantial  business  blocks 
of  brick,  and  scattered  here  and  there  were  tasty  residences, 
embowered  in  trees,  and  from  gardens  the  perfume  of  roses,  then 
in  full  bloom,  burdened  the  air.  A  college  building,  together 
with  three  or  four  churches  with  spires  pointing  heavenward, 
looked  homelike,  and  to  men  who  for  months  had  been  wallow 
ing  in  camps  or  wandering  over  the  fag-ends  of  creation,  it 
seemed  a  paradise.  The  people  were  well  dressed,  generally  well 
behaved  and  intelligent,  and  for  once,  had  the  fates  so  ordered 


194  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

it,  the  men  composing  the  36th  Illinois  would  have  been  con 
tent  in  the  performance  of  garrison  duty  at  Batesville. 

People  came  flocking  in  scores  from  the  surrounding  country 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  obtain  protection  papers 
which  would  secure  their  persons  from  insult  and  their  property 
from  confiscation.  Many,  no  doubt,  were  sincere  in  their  pro 
fessions  of  loyalty ;  others  were  heartily  tired  of  war  and  its 
attendant  woes,  and  willing  to  purchase  immunity  from  its 
dread  consequences  at  any  cost.  Some  who  had  been  the  most 
active  aiders  and  abettors  of  secession,  had  stirred  up  mobs  and 
persecuted  Union  men  with  the  utmost  malignity,  were  the  first 
to  come  in  with  professions  of  a  "change  of  heart/'  and  to  claim 
protection  from  personal  harm,  immunity  from  arrest,  from  a 
just  retribution  for  past  acts  of  license,  rapine  and  murder,  and 
exemption  of  their  property  from  confiscation. 

Among  those  on  whose  fidelity  the  General  could  rely,  who 
never  wavered  under  the  most  trying  circumstances  in  devo 
tion  to  their  country,  were  Judge  Elisha  Baxter,  afterward  Gov 
ernor  of  the  State;  C.  C.  Bliss  and  Reuben  Harpham,  of 
Batesville,  and  the  venerable  Isaac  Murphy,  of  Huntsville,  who, 
when  the  waves  of  secession  broke  with  fury  over  the  State, 
carrying  away  on  its  eddying  tide  those  on  whom  the  people 
most  depended  to  stay  the  rolling  flood,  had  the  moral  courage 
and  heroism  to  stand  up  alone  before  the  seething  multitude 
which  thronged  the  halls  and  corridors  of  the  convention  and 
steadfastly  vote  No !  on  the  passage  arid  adoption  of  the  ordi 
nance  of  secession.  A  grateful  people  remembered  this  grand, 
heroic  act,  and  subsequently  elected  him  the  first  Governor  of 
free  and  reconstructed  Arkansas.  Then  there  was  Col.  James 
M.  Johnson,  who  for  his  outspoken  Union  sentiments  became  an 
outcast  from  his  home,  but  afterwards  took  an  active  and  prom- 


APPROPRIATION    OF    REBEL    MANSIONS.  195 

inent  part  in  the  military  and  political  affairs  of  the  State.  We 
might  mention  many  others,  but  these  stood  out  pre-eminently 
as  honest  men,  as  heroes,  statesmen  and  patriots. 

Some  of  the  spacious  but  now  untenanted  mansions,  once 
doubtless  the  abode  of  genial  hospitality,  were  unceremoniously 
seized  upon  for  offices  and  officers'  quarters.  Empty  ware-houses 
were  likewise  appropriated  for  the  storage  of  ordinance  or  pro 
visions.  It  was  evident  that  this  profanation  of  Rebel  mansions 
by  the  u  miserable  Yankees"  created  a  ripple  of  excitement  in 
Rebel  circles;  but  never  a  word  of  remonstrance  was  uttered, 
only  volleys  of  indignant  looks  and  contemptuous  gestures 
showed  that  the  equanimity  of  the  neighborhood,  if  not  of  the 
now  slumbering  household  gods,  was  disturbed  at  the  intrusion. 
As  we  walked  through  the  streets  it  was  evident  that  all  whom 
we  met  were  not  friends.  Somehow  a  feeling  of  hatred  to 
wards  the  North  would  manifest  itself  in  a  thousand  different 
ways.  If  a  flag  floated  over  a  sidewalk,  some  fair  dame  would 
sweep  out  into  the  street  to  avoid  walking  under  it.  If  a  comely 
face  at  an  open  window  attracted  attention,  a  sudden  slamming 
of  window-blinds  would  ensue ;  but  as  none  of  the  masculine 
portion  of  the  inhabitants  joined  in  these  petty  demonstrations, 
the  young  men  of  the  36th  put  on  their  best  looks  and  smiled 
blandly  upon  the  fair  daughters  of  Secessia,  while  those  who  had 
wives  at  home  enjoyed  heartily  these  dashes  of  Rebel  pepper  as 
giving  pungency  to  their  experiences. 

While  lying  lazily  in  camp  at  Batesville,  the  men  were  inde 
fatigable  in  their  explorations  among  the  vegetable  gardens  and 
poultry  yards  for  means  to  refurnish  their  depleted  larder. 
Many  articles  of  prime  necessity  in  the  provision  department 
were  wanting,  and  to  their  credit  it  may  be  added  they 
usually  returned  successful  in  the  object  of  their  reconnoisance. 


196  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

By  certain  mysterious  winks  and  vague  hints  thrown  out  by 
those  who  were  in  the  secret  and  understood  only  by  the  initiated, 
it  was  whispered  among  those  noted  for  their  bibulous  proclivi 
ties,  that  in  the  cellar  of  a  certain  business  house  there  was 
secreted  a  number  of  suspicious  casks,  from  whence  might  be 
extracted  a  genuine  article  of  corn-juice.  Soldiers  were  seen 
skulking  from  camp  with  empty  canteens,  and  if  challenged, 
were  "only  just  going  over  to  a  neighboring  farm  house  for 
milk."  On  their  return,  a  suspicious  swelling  under  their 
shirts  announced  their  success  in  securing  the  so-called  lacteal 
fluid.  Then  came  marching  orders  for  the  enusing  day,  and  a 
consequent  run  upon  the  source  of  supply  of  the  precious 
extract.  Among  those  who  were  always  constitutionally  thirsty 
was  Todd,  the  Drum  Major  of  the  36th,  who  on  this  occasion 
found  himself  one  of  a  clamorous  crowd  of  thirsty  souls  col 
lected  around  an  open  window,  through  which  empty  canteens 
and  greenback  dollars  were  passed  in,  and  then  passed  back 
minus  the  dollars,  but  filled  with  tarantala.  Todd  was  known 
and  addressed  as  "Major"  by  the  crowd,  who  at  this  time 
was  getting  numerous  as  well  as  boisterous  on  account  of 
not  being  served  fast  enough,  and  threatened  to  pull  down  the 
shanty  about  the  proprietor's  head.  He  appealed  to  the  "Major" 
for  protection,  and  thinking  the  broadness  of  the  stripes  deco 
rating  his  sleeves  was  emblematic  of  highness  of  rank  and  a 
guaranty  of  integrity,  admitted  him  into  his  place  of  business  as 
a  precaution  against  threatened  violence.  But  the  "Major's" 
efforts  to  placate  the  crowd  were  ineffectual,  and  he  advised  the 
proprietor  to  go  to  the  Provost  Marshal  for  a  guard,  while  he 
would  remain  and  preserve  his  goods,  chatties  and  effects  from 
pillage  and  harm.  No  sooner  was  his  back  turned  than  a  lively 
sale  of  the  fluid  commenced.  Todd  was  busily  engaged  in  pock- 


BREAK    IN    THE   WHISKY    TKADE.  197 

eting  greenbacks  when  the  proprietor  returned,  accompanied  by 
a  genuine  Major  and  a  file  of  soldiers  to  disperse  the  noisy  rabble. 
At  once  the  whisky  trade  was  broken.  Consternation  seized 
our  knight  of  the  drumstick  as  he  saw  the  shadow  of  a  German 
Major  darkening  the  door,  and  in  imagination  he  saw  the  guard 
house,  a  drum  head  court  martial,  and  a  little  shooting  affair  at 
sunrise.  He  instantly  broke  for  the  rear  of  the  store,  sprang 
through  a  window  and  landed  fifteen  feet  in  the  back  yard  below, 
the  German  Major  the  while  shouting  "  halt !  halt !"  But 
Todd  could  not  wait.  Important  business  called  him  away. 
Every  moment  he  expected  a  battery  of  a  hundred  guns  to  open 
upon  him,  and  picking  himself  up  he  ran  like  a  deer  through 
back  yards,  clearing  ditches  and  fences  at  a  bound,  until  he  found 
himself  in  his  tent,  buried  from  sight,  trembling  with  fear  and 
sweltering  beneath  a  ponderous  mass  of  blankets,  knapsacks,  etc. 

Meanwhile,  at  Col.  Greusel's  request,  the  36th  was  transferred 
from  Osterhaus'  Division  to  that  of  Gen.  Asboth.  One  reason 
for  this  change  was  that  the  36th,  being  the  only  regiment 
in  the  division  composed  of  native  Americans,  the  other  troops 
being  Germans,  united  in  charging  all  the  peccadilloes  of  the 
division  upon  the  36th,  a  proceeding  which  all  were  beginning 
to  be  heartily  tired  of. 

A  ferry-boat  having  been  constructed  and  everything  in 
readiness  for  a  forward  move  upon  Little  Rock,  Asboth's  and 
Osterhaus'  Divisions  crossed  White  river  on  the  7th  of  May,  the 
36th  being  the  first  regiment  over,  and  encamped  on  the  south  bank 
of  the  stream.  The  regiment  had  marched  about  fifteen  miles  when 
an  order  was  received  to  turn  back.  A  requisition  had  been 
made  upon  Gen.  Curtis  for  ten  of  his  best  regiments  to  reinforce 
the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  then  investing  Corinth.  The  order 
was  imperative  and  the  General  reluctantly  complied,  which  so 


198  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

reduced  the  numbers  of  the  army  of  the  South-west  that  the 
expedition  to  Little  Rock,  which  had  commenced  under  such 
flattering  circumstances,  was  necessarily  abandoned. 

The  long,  fatiguing  march  of  Asboth's  and  Davis's  columns 
to  Cape  Girardeau  commenced  on  the  llth  of  May  from  Bates- 
ville.  For  a  day  or  two  some  little  delay  was  occasioned  in 
shoeing  horses,  making  repairs  and  generally  overhauling  and 
re-arranging  the  stores.  At  eleven  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the 
13th  the  drums  and  bugles  aroused  the  men,  and  at  midnight 
the  command  left  its  camp  on  the  Strawberry  river.  Then 
commenced  a  march,  the  character  of  which  has  but  few  parallels 
in  the  records  of  the  war.  At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  14th,  before  the  sun  had  begun  to  purple  the  east,  the  column 
passed  through  Smith  ville.  a  straggling  south-western  town,  the 
first  met  with  after  leaving  Batesville.  It  was  nearly  deserted  ; 
the  houses  were  empty,  and  only  a  few  terror  stricken  women 
and  children  peered  out  into  the  darkness  at  the  fleeting  shadows 
of  men  and  horses,  wagons  and  artillery  passing  by.  The 
day  dawned  and  passed  without  a  cloud  ;  the  sun  poured  down 
its  fiercest  rays,  raising  the  temperature  to  fever  heat,  under 
which  man  and  beast  suffered  intensely.  All  that  hot  forenoon 
the  column  pushed  bravely  on.  amidst  clouds  of  dust,  crossing 
Spring  river  at  eight  A.  M.,  reaching  Eleven-Points  river  a  little 
before  noon,  which  was  crossed,  and  the  regiment  went  into 
camp  on  its  eastern  banks  at  one  P.  M.  Not  a  third  of  the 
troops  were  able  to  keep  up  with  the  marching  column. 
They  fell  out  of  the  ranks  by  scores,  and  each  shady  nook  by 
the  wayside  was  monopolized  by  squads  of  exhausted,  dust 
covered  men,  who  all  day  long  wearily  dragged  their  way  to 
camp. 

Many  horses  gave  out,  and  about  eleven  o'clock  a  wagon  con 
taining  hospital  stores  broke  down  too  badly  to  be  repaired.  To 


SUCCESSFUL    SEARCH   FOR    A    WAGON.  199 

abandon  the  stores  was  not  to  be  thought  of;  not  a  spare  wagon 
pertained  to  the  command,  and  one  must  be  had  from  some  source. 
J.  C.  Dennison  and  Ralph  Miller  volunteered  to  hunt  one,  and 
ranged  the  country  over  fifteen  miles  alone,  in  the  midst  of  a 
hostile  population,  in  what  bid  fair  to  be  a  fruitless  search,  look 
ing  through  barnyards  and  out  of  the  way  places  where  it  was 
thought  possible  a  wagon  could  be  secreted.  At  length  one  was 
found,  but  the  hearts  of  the  boys  almost  failed  them  before  the 
pleading  remonstrance  and  tears  of  the  lady  proprietor.  It  was 
all  the  vehicle  she  possessed,  had  cost  two  hundred  arid  twenty- 
five  dollars  in  gold,  and  "  shame  on  the  men  who  would  rob  them 
of  it.''  A  fine  looking  young  lady  united  her  supplication  with 
that  of  her  mother,  which  nearly  overcame  the  susceptible  hearts 
of  the  young  men.  But  no,  the  necessities  of  the  case  were 
urgent,  and  with  many  misgivings  and  heartily  ashamed  of 
themselves  they  took  the  wagon,  in  spite  of  the  tears  of  the 
matron  and  the  blandishments  of  youth  and  beauty,  reaching 
the  regimental  camp  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  next  day  the  regiment  inarched  to  Current  river,  a  deep 
and  rapid  stream.  The  ferryboat  at  the  place  of  crossing  was 
small,  and  much  time  was  consumed  in  passing  over.  Some  of 
the  advance  regiments  had  crossed  in  safety,  when  the  boat  cap 
sized,  and  eight  or  ten  of  the  men  belonging  to  the  15th  Mis 
souri  Infantry  were  drowned.  Eiforts  to  resuscitate  them  were 
unavailing,  and  their  death  and  burial  on  the  banks  of  the  stream 
caused  a  chill  of  sadness  to  pervade  the  army. 

It  being  impracticable  to  ferry  the  remainder  of  the  command 
at  this  point,  the  36th  marched  up  the  river  five  miles  arid 
crossed  at  a  deep  and  dangerous  ford.  The  rapid  current  swept 
many  of  the  mule  teams  from  their  feet  and  some  were  drowned, 
but  the  men  and  stores  were  got  safely  over.  The  Black  river 


200  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

was  reached  and  crossed  on  the  18th  and  the  St.  Francis  on  the 
19th,  at  the  town  of  Greenville,  through  which  the  army  marched 
by  platoons,  with  flying  banners,  the  rattle  of  drums  and  the 
shrill  blast  of  bugles. 

The  two  succeeding  days  it  rained  incessantly,  but  through 
the  mud  and  storm  the  column  plunged  at  the  rate  of  from 
twenty  to  thirty  miles  a  day,  notwithstanding  the  country  was 
broken,  the  roads  rough  and  badly  washed  by  storms,  being 
in  many  places  nearly  impassible. 

After  crossing  the  White- Water  river  at  Dallas,  the  road  to 
Cape  Girardeau  was  in  fine  condition,  and  no  delays  by 
exhausted  teams  or  broken  wagons  interrupted  the  march. 
Though  worn  with  fatigue  and  foot  sore,  the  men  were  in  good 
spirits,  for  another  day  would  end  their  ceaseless  tramp,  tramp, 
tramp,  and  give  them  a  chance  for  much  needed  rest.  At 
two  o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  22nd  of  May  the  city  of  Cape  Girard 
eau  was  reached,  proceeding  to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  gazing  across  its  turbid  waters  to  their  own  loved  prairie 
State,  some  gave  vent  to  their  exuberance  of  spirits  by  giving 
three  hearty  cheers,  while  from  the  fortifications  loud  peeled  the 
cannon  in  a  joyful  salute  in  honor  of  the  ai rival  of  the  heroes 
of  Pea  Ridge  and  of  a  march  of  one  thousand  miles. 

Physically,  aside  from  fatigue  which  would  soon  wear  off,  the 
men  were  robust,  sunburnt  and  healthy,  but  their  clothing  was 
in  a  complete  state  of  demoralization — their  whole  appearance 
like  a  crowd  of  vagabonds  chased  from  the  borders  of  civiliza 
tion.  The  36th  was  made  up  of  men  of  education  and  refine 
ment,  but  rags,  dirt  and  fatigue  had  taken  much  of  their  manly 
pride  away,  and  in  the  dilapidated  condition  which  they  entered 
Cape  Girardeau  it  is  doubtful  if  they  would  have  led  an  assault 
or  charged  a  battery  with  the  spirit  and  confidence  of  well  dressed 


END    OF   THE    SOUTHWEST    CAMPAIGN.  201 

soldiers,  knowing  that  in  doing  so,  if  they  were  killed  they  were 
too  ragged  and  dirty  to  be  thought  worthy  of  a  decent  burial. 
Thus  terminated  this  campaign  in  the  South-west.  Henceforth 
the  regiment  was  destined  to  gather  rich  garlands  of  glory  in 
other  fields  east  of  the  "  Father  of  Waters,"  which  it  crossed  as 
an  organized  body  for  the  last  time. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

CAPE    GIRARDEAU    TO    RIENZI. 

\r+*' 

EN.  JEFF.  C.  DAVIS'  Division  preceded  that  of 
Gen.  Asboth's  some  days,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the 
latter  at  Cape  Girardeau,  Davis'  troops  were  just 
embarking  tor  Tennessee.  Food,  raiment  and  rest 
were  absolutely  required  before  Asboth's  command 
would  be  in  condition  to  follow.  The  soles  of  the  shoes  supplied 
at  Batesville  were  largely  composed  of  oak-wood,  chips,  and  frag 
ments  of  felt  colored  on  the  outside,  or  covered  with  thin  pieces 
of  leather.  The  furnishing  of  these  shoes  was  one  of  the  many 
gigantic  frauds  perpetrated  by  contractors  upon  the  Quarter-Mas 
ter's  Department,  the  common  soldiers,  in  almost  every  instance, 
being  the  victims.  A  few  days'  marching  served  to  use  up  these 
shoes,  and  on  entering  Cape  Girardeau  many  men  were  bare 
footed,  their  feet  so  lacerated  and  swollen  as  scarcely  to  be  able 


202  THIRTY- SIXTH   ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

to  hobble  along.  Had  the  contractor  who  perpetrated  the  swindle 
at  that  time  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  his  enraged  victims,  a  halter  and  limb  would  have  been  resorted 
to  as  a  most  efficient  means  of  cancelling  his  shoe  contracts  for 
ever. 

The  next  morning  a  supply  of  clothing  was  obtained,  and  the 
persons  and  wardrobe  of  the  men  were  thoroughly  renovated. 
One  night's  sleep  and  two  "straight  meals"  rested  and  restored 
them  to  their  average  fighting  calibre.  In  twenty-four  hours 
the  aches  and  fatigues  which  days  of  hard  marching  through  heat 
and  dust,  the  want  of  food  and  rest  had  produced,  were  in  a 
measure  forgotten.  Those  who  by  sickness  were  incapacitated 
from  active  service,  were  removed  to  the  city  hospitals,  and  sub 
sequently  when  restored  to  health,  rejoined  the  command  at 
Rienzi. 

The  camps  were  thronged  with  peddling  "  lazaroni  "  from  the 
city,  composed  of  slovenly,  dirty-faced  girls,  ugly  old  women, 
dilapidated  men  and  thieving  boys,  with  their  ceaseless  impor 
tunities  to  buy  their  peanuts,  fruit,  jack-knives  and  gingerbread. 
The  soldiers  were  liberal  patrons  of  the  pie  and  cake  venders, 
whose  stock  in  trade  disappeared  like  frost  before  the  warm  sun 
shine.  Rank  smelling  haversacks,  that  for  months  had  been  the 
receptacles  of  only  foul-looking  slices  of  the  flesh  of  that  long 
snouted  incarnation  of  uncleanliness.  known  as  the  hog,  suddenly 
grew  plethoric  with  gingerbread  and  turnovers.  When  the 
order  was  given  to  cook  four  days'  rations,  but  few  fires  were 
kindled  and  few  camp  kettles  simmered  with  their  usual  contents 
of  bacon  and  beans. 

At  four  P.  M.  of  the  23rd  the  infantry  portion  of  the  regiment 
embarked  upon  the  steamer  Planet,  and  within  an  hour  the  boat 
was  headed  down  the  Mississippi,  plowing  its  way  through  the 


ON   THE   MARCH   FOR   CORINTH.  203 

turbid  waters,  arriving  at  Cairo  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening. 
While  laying  at  Cairo,  a  member  of  Company  G  accidentally  fell 
into  the  river.  He  was  fished  out  with  difficulty,  and  barely 
saved  from  drowning.  The  rain  poured  down  in  torrents,  but 
the  men  had  become  too  well  accustomed  to  aquatic  habits  of  life 
to  mind  an  ordinary  rain-storm.  By  spreading  tarpauling  over 
the  bulwarks  and  decks  they  were  in  a  measure  shielded  from  the 
aqueous  drippings  from  the  clouds, 

The  trip  up  the  river  to  Paducah  was  almost  a  continuous 
ovation.  Steamers  thickly  crowded  the  Ohio  in  passing  to  and 
fro,  and  from  each,  cheer  upon  cheer  went  up  when  it  became 
known  that  the  troops  thronging  the  Planet,  from  pilot-house  to 
deck,  were  the  heroes  of  Pea  Ridge.  At  Paducah  the  boat  was 
detained  several  hours  for  coal.  Numbers  of  contraband  Afri 
cans,  fleeing  from  the  plantations,  had  congregated  there  ready 
to  do  any  and  all  odd  jobs  necessary  in  helping  along  the  good 
cause.  They  readily  found  employment,  and  worked  like  beavers 
in  the  dust  and  hot  sunshine,  soon  accomplishing  the  task  of 
coaling,  and  the  Planet  was  enabled  to  proceed  up  the  Tennessee. 
Major  Kenney  came  on  board  at  Paducah  and  made  the  men 
happy  by  the  payment  of  three  months'  wages.  Otherwise  the 
trip  to  Hamburg  was  accomplished  without  incident  worthy  of 
notice. 

Companies  A  and  B  Cavalry  left  Cape  Girardeau  on  the  24th 
in  the  steamer  Minnehaha,  reaching  Hamburg  and  joining  the 
regiment  on  the  27th  of  May.  The  long  marches,  numerous 
scouts,  and  vast  amount  of  extra  duty  required  of  them  in  Mis 
souri  and  Arkansas,  had  used  up  many  of  their  horses,  but  these 
were  replaced  with  fresli  ones  before  proceeding  to  the  front. 

The  86th  encamped  a  half  mile  from  the  river,  remaining  there 
until  the  afternoon  of  the  28th,  when  Asboth's  Division  took  up 


204  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

its  line  of  march  to  join  the  large  army  under  Gen.  Hallock, 
then  investing  Corinth.  The  afternoon  was  oppressively  warm, 
and  wearily  the  column  plodded  on,  over  roads  that  were  mere 
forest  trails,  through  a  thickly  wooded  and  brushy  country  with 
few  evidences  of  cultivation,  and  winding  over  low  rocky  ridges, 
succeeded  by  swamps  through  which  the  roads  were  corduroyed, 
now  pitching  into  hollows  washed  by  recent  rains,  and  then  up  a 
short  but  steep  ascent  to  the  level  of  the  surrounding  country. 
At  every  bad  place  (and  Southern  highways  were  full  of  them) 
accidents  to  artillery  or  wagons  caused  uncertain  halts  and  weari 
some  delays.  Such  was  the  character  of  this,  which,  like  all 
marches,  over  rough  roads  in  new  and  sparsely  settled  countries, 
was  anything  but  pleasant. 

Passing  over  a  portion  of  the  battle-field  of  Shiloh,  every  tree, 
field  and  building  attested  the  severity  of  the  conflict.  Trees 
were  pierced  by  shot  and  shattered  by  shell ;  fields  were  plowed 
by  cannon  balls,  and  the  ground  everywhere  littered  with 
broken  muskets,  fragments  of  knapsacks,  cartridge  boxes  and 
articles  of  clothing,  while  the  stench  arising  from  the  festering 
carcasses  of  horses  poisoned  the  air  and  sickened  the  passing 
soldiers.  Now  and  then  the  sound  of  distant  cannonading  in 
the  direction  of  Corinth  was  borne  to  the  ears  of  the  soldiers, 
awakening  conjecture  and  brief  comments;  but  this  music  had 
become  too  common,  and  the  day  was  too  intensely  hot  to  arouse 
the  dormant  energies  of  the  troops  or  quicken  their  march.  It 
was  painful  to  see  many  poor  fellows  sink  down  by  the  wayside, 
overcome  by  the  heat.  Three  or  four  being  nearly  exhausted  and 
too  sick  to  proceed,  were  left  behind. 

The  declining  sun  was  followed  by  the  evening  twilight,  and 
twilight  deepened  into  darkness  ;  still  the  column  pushed  on 
until  eleven  o'clock  at  night  before  a  halt  was  ordered,  and  the 


DILATORY  MOVEMENTS   OF   GEN.   HALLOCK.  205 

troops  went  into  camp,  having  marched  sixteen  miles.  With  very 
little  food  in  their  haversacks,  there  was  nothing  for  the  men  to 
do  but  roll  themselves  in  their  blankets,  and  lay  down  upon  the 
damp  ground,  without  tents  to  shield  them  from  the  heavy  dew, 
and  no  pillow  but  the  earth.  The  provision  and  hospital  trains 
were  many  miles  in  the  rear,  slowly  plodding  along,  surmounting 
the  rough  ascents  or  floundering  through  swamps  all  night,  only 
reaching  the  command  at  daylight,  after  the  column  was  formed 
and  ready  to  resume  the  march. 

On  the  29th  the  division  reached  Farmington,  reporting  to 
Gen.  Pope  to  whose  command  it  was  attached.  From  thence  it 
quickly  moved  into  position  in  rear  and  in  support  of  the  line  of 
earth  works,  where  noisy  batteries,  posted  at  every  available 
position,  were  pounding  away  at  the  batteries  and  entrenchments 
of  the  enemy,  and  heavy  supporting  bodies  of  blue  infantry 
lined  the  works,  the  opposing  forces  grimly  facing  each  other  in 
expectation  of  a  bloody  encounter  at  any  hour. 

Gen.  Hallock,  who  held  the  chief  command,  had  assembled  a 
splendid  army  around  Corinth  of  more  than  one  hundred  thou 
sand  western  troops.  He  had  spent  more  than  a  month  in  dila 
tory  movements,  creeping  snail-like  from  Shiloh,  fortifying  each 
step  of  the  way,  even  when  there  was  not  a  Rebel  picket  guard 
to  menace  or  endanger  the  safety  of  his  vast  army.  As  he 
gradually  neared  Corinth,  sharp  and  bloody  skirmishes  between 
pickets  and  detachments  thrown  out  in  advance,  were  matters 
of  every  day  occurrence.  During  this  time  but  two  or  three 
engagements  had  occurred  that  arose  to  the  dignity  of  pitched 
battles,  and  these  were  barren  of  results.  Gen.  Pope,  who  com 
manded  the  left  wing,  had  encountered  the  enemy  in  strong  force 
at  or  near  Farmington,  resulting  in  a  number  of  fierce  conflicts  ; 
and  more  recently,  Gen.  Sherman,  who  commanded  the  right, 


206  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

had  taken  a  strong  advanced  position  at  Russells,  after  a  short 
but  sharp  contest,  in  which  both  sides  suffered  considerable  loss. 

On  the  28th  the  whole  line  was  advanced,  entrenchments 
thrown  up,  artillery  brought  into  position,  and  on  the  arrival  of 
the  Pea  Ridge  Divisions,  arrangements  were  matured  for  a  com 
bined  attack  of  the  whole  army  on  the  following  day.  A  heavy 
and  incessant  cannonade  was  kept  up,  sweeping  the  intervening 
space  between  the  opposing  hosts  with  an  iron  torrent.  Shells 
went  screaming  over  the  parapets,  bursting  near  the  advance, 
while  not  a  few  projectiles  reached  the  line  of  reserves;  but  as 
no  damage  was  done  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  36th,  the 
whizzing  of  round  shot  and  the  shrieking  of  shell  lost  their  power 
to  charm,  and  the  regiment  remained  quietly  in  its  position, 
wholly  unmindful  of  the  storm  of  war  raging  in  the  advance. 

The  6th  Wisconsin  battery  was  assigned  to  Gen.  Asboth,  and 
such  changes  made  as  were  necessary  to  promote  the  efficiency  of 
the  division  and  put  it  in  the  best  fighting  trim.  The  trains  were 
not  allowed  to  come  up  to  the  position  occupied  by  the  regiment, 
and  the  men,  who  had  had  but  little  to  eat  fo*r  twenty -four  hours, 
were  obliged  to  send  some  distance  to  the  rear  for  rations  and 
cooking  utensils. 

That  night,  in  the  intervals  between  the  roar  of  cannon,  the 
shriek  of  locomotive  whistles  and  the  rumbling  of  railroad  cars, 
indicated  an  important  movement  going  on  within  the  enemy's 
lines.  At  daylight  a  succession  of  loud  explosions,  followed  by 
dense  clouds  of  smoke  arose  from  the  town ;  at  once  it  flashed 
upon  the  minds  of  all  that  the  enemy  were  blowing  up  their 
works  preparatory  to  abandoning  Corinth.  Skirmishers  were 
thrown  out  to  feel  the  enemy  and  learn  the  cause  of  so  unusual 
a  commotion,  who,  finding  the  defences  abandoned,  reported  the 
fact  to  their  commanders.  At  once  all  the  advance  divisions 


SURRENDER   OF   CORINTH.  207 

pressed  forward,  pouring  over  the  abandoned  earthworks  with 
tumultuous  shouts  which  rent  the  very  air,  and  entered  the  now 
nearly  deserted  and  silent  town.  The  Mayor,  under  a  flag  of 
truce,  met  the  advance  and  formally  surrendered  the  place. 
Beauregard  had  effected  his  escape  in  comparative  safety  with  a 
small  loss  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war.  Many  prisoners  were 
captured,  and  deserters  thronged  to  our  lines  in  such  numbers  as 
to  become  a  nuisance.  Large  quantities  of  corn  and  commissary 
stores  fell  into  our  hands,  with  locomotives,  cars  and  valuable 
railroad  property.  Thus  fell  Corinth  without  a  struggle,  after 
every  preparation  had  been  made  to  capture  the  place  by  storm. 

Gen.  Pope,  being  nearest  their  line  of  retreat,  at  once  com 
menced  a  vigorous  pursuit,  and  in  the  afternoon  Asboth  joined 
in  rear  of  the  pursuing  column.  The  roads  were  narrow  and 
badly  obstructed  as  well  as  crowded  with  troops,  and  but  little 
progress  was  made.  Many  Confederate  soldiers,  who  had  strag 
gled  from  their  commands,  were  captured,  and  hundreds  volunta 
rily  surrendered  without  an  effort  to  escape.  A  counter-current 
of  soldiers  in  Confederate  gray  set  in  towards  Corinth,  where 
they  were  parolled  and  allowed  to  depart  wherever  they  liked. 

The  country  was  intersected  with  marshes  and  sluggish  streams, 
the  bridges  crossing  them  being  destroyed ;  added  to  which,  on 
the  first,  second  and  third  days  of  June,  rain  fell  in  torrents,  and 
the  thousands  of  horses,  wagons  and  men  thronging  the  roads 
reduced  them  to  the  half  fluid  condition  of  mortar-beds. 

The  36th  being  in  the  rear,  made  only  such  progress  as  the 
crowded  state  of  the  roads  would  allow.  To  advance  or  retreat 
with  celerity  over  wretched  highways,  through  a  half  submerged 
country,  was  an  utter  impossibility.  The  occasional  muttering 
of  cannon  far  to  the  front,  faintly  heard  through  the  mist  laden 
air,  indicated  the  course  to  pursue,  and  onward  toiled  the  troops, 


208  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

plunging  along  through  the  mud,  their  knapsacks  and  accoutre 
ments  dripping  with  rain,  their  clothing  thickly  encased  with 
Mississippi  soil.  The  wagons  rolled  slowly  along,  sinking  to  the 
hubs ;  or,  striking  an  apparently  bottomless  rut,  turned  completely 
over,  scattering  camp  kettles,  tents,  and  the  contents  of  broken 
boxes  over  the  storm-swept  earth.  Officers  and  men  were  alike 
exposed  to  the  pitiless  fury  of  the  storm,  and  compelled  to  bivouac 
without  tents,  often  without  blankets,  lying  promiscuously  about 
upon  the  saturated  ground  in  vain  efforts  to  sleep. 

The  command  reached  Boonville,  thirty  miles  distant  from 
Corinth,  on  the  6th  of  June,  and  encamped  on  the  line  of  the 
Mobile  &  Ohio  railroad,  near  a  spring  of  excellent  water.  Gen. 
Pope's  advance  had  here  encountered  the  Confederate  rear  in 
force,  and  sharp  skirmishing  ensued  with  considerable  loss  on 
both  sides,  but  they  were  worsted  and  reluctantly  continued  their 
retreat  to  Tupelo  and  Okalona.  The  pursuit  was  then  discon 
tinned,  and  for  some  days  the  army  lay  quietly  in  their  camps. 

It  was  at  Boonville  that  Col.  Elliott,  during  the  last  days  of 
the  siege,  with  two  regiments  of  cavalry,  had  destroyed  a  portion 
of  the  railroad  track,  a  number  of  engines  and  cars  laden  with 
arms,  ammunition  and  army  supplies.  He  captured  one  hundred 
prisoners,  burned  the  buildings,  including  passenger-depot,  store 
houses,  water-tanks,  and  so  effectually  broke  up  the  single  line 
over  which  their  supplies  were  brought,  as  to  necessitate  and 
hasten  the  evacuation  of  Corinth. 

While  at  Boonville,  the  suspicions  of  a  party  of  men  were 
aroused  relative  to  the  peculiar  formation  of  so-called  Confederate 
graves.  One,  which,  according  to  the  inscription  upon  the  head 
board,  purported  to  be  the  grave  of  a  Confederate  Major  who 
had  been  wounded  at  Shiloh  and  subsequently  died,  was  exam 
ined,  when  a  fine  brass  cannon  was  unearthed,  and  on  pursuing 


RETURN   OF   LIEUT.    COL.    JOSLYN.  209 

> 
their  investigations,  a  number  of  others  were  discovered  buried  in 

a  similar  manner.  It  was  some  days  before  the  trains  were  able 
to  come  up,  during  which  time  the  process  of  cooking  was  per 
formed  after  the  most  primitive  style,  'without  camp-kettles  or 
cooking  utensils,  while  their  scanty  meals  were  eaten  from  chips 
or  flat  stones  in  lieu  of  plates.  The  only  casualty  of  the  cam 
paign  occurring  to  the  36th  was  the  accidental  shooting  of  Lieut. 
Dyke,  by  himself,  in  the  foot,  causing  a  painful  wound. 

Lieut.  Col.  Joslyn,  who  had  been  on  leave  of  absence  since 
April,  returned  on  the  10th,  and  was  welcomed  with  three  hearty 
cheers.  The  whole  family  of  regimental  field-officers  was  again 
united,  but  this  happy  condition  of  affairs  lasted  only  for  a  single 
day,  for  on  the  llth  Col.  Greusel  obtained  thirty  days'  leave  of 
absence,  and  started  at  once  for  a  season  of  rest  and  enjoyment 
with  his  family  at  Aurora.  The  command  of  the  regiment  in 
the  meanwhile  devolved  upon  Lieut.  Col.  Joslyn.  On  the  12th 
the  greater  portion  of  Gen.  Pope's  army  returned  to  Rienzi  and 
established  permanent  camps. 

The  weather  was  warm ;  the  roads,  in  marked  contrast  with  the 
former  march,  were  dry,  and  great  clouds  of  dust  enveloped  the 
column.  Men  breathed  dust,  smelt  it,  tasted  it,  and  stratas  of 
Southern  soil  gathered  upon  their  clothing,  changing  the  regula 
tion  blue  to  the  hue  of  the  butternut.  All  were  in  good  humor, 
and  grinned  at  each  other  through  their  brown  masks.  Arriving 
at  Rienzi  the  regiment  encamped  near  the  railroad,  on  uneven, 
open  ground,  badly  situated  for  water,  and  without  protection 
from  the  broiling  heat  of  the  sun.  But  in  a  day  or  two  the  camp 
was  removed  about  a  mile  north  of  its  first  location,  to  high  and 
healthy  ground,  in  a  grove  of  oaks,  which  furnished  constant 
shade.  A  thousand  willing  hands  cleared  away  the  underbrush 


210  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

and  arranged  the  tents  in  military  order,  presenting  a  clean  and 
tidy  appearance,  characteristic  of  men  of  taste  and  refinement. 

Under  Col.  Joslyn's  supervision,  an  officers'  school  was  insti 
tuted,  for  the  purpose  of  instruction  in  tactics,  army  regulations 
and  the  general  duties  of  officers.  The  men  likewise  were  thor 
oughly  taught  in  guard,  picket  and  other  duties,  and  the  knowl 
edge  gained  in  these  schools  of  instruction  was  frequently  called 
into  requisition  in  guarding  against  the  predatory  attacks  of  a 
vigilant  and  enterprising  foe.  Flying  detachments  of  Confeder 
ate  cavalry  at  all  times  ranged  the  country,  sweeping  down  upon 
the  pickets,  picking  up  stragglers,  menacing  the  camps,  until  for 
prudential  reasons  it  was  found  necessary  to  throw  up  rifle  pits, 
and  in  many  places  more  elaborate  works,  for  self  protection. 
Large  details  from  the  36th,  in  connection  with  similar  parties 
from  other  regiments,  by  a  vigorous  use  of  pick  and  shovel,  sur 
rounded  the  post  with  formidable  entrenchments,  from  behind 
which  the  picket-guard  frequently  observed  the  enemy's  cavalry 
skurrying  over  the  hills  and  were  enabled  with  ease  to  thwart  all 
their  efforts  at  a  surprise.  But  woe  to  the  luckless  forager  for 
blackberries,  or  parties  engaged  in  private  marauding  among  the 
sheep-folds  and  poultry-yards  of  the  "natives"  outside  of  the 
picket  lines,  for  such  were  pretty  certain  to  be  "gobbled  up  "  and 
immured  in  some  filthy,  vermin-haunted  prison  pen,  where  the 
luxury  of  blackberries  and  cream,  as  well  as  all  other  dainties 
which  give  zest  to  scanty  prison  fare,  were  denied  them. 

Among  those  who  became  personally  cognizant  of  the  ubiquit 
ous  character  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  the  alarming  nearness 
and  frequency  of  their  hostile  demonstrations,  was  the  wife  of 
Capt.  Pierce,  of  Company  D,  who  one  day  was  captured  by  a 
Rebel  scouting-party.  She  had  proceeded  outside  of  the  infantry 
pickets,  accompanied  by  privates  Gillimore  and  Benedict,  for  the 


CAPTURE   OF   MRS.    PIERCE.  211 

purpose  of  procuring  vegetables  for  the  use  of  the  hospital  and 
her  own  mess.  Knowing  the  cavalry  pickets  were  a  number  of 
miles  in  advance,  the  party  thought  it  safe  to  drive  five  or  six 
miles  into  the  country.  Suddenly  they  were  beset  by  a  squad  of 
armed  men,  who  sprang  out  of  the  bushes  and  demanded  their 
surrender.  They  were  hurried  away  to  Ripley,  twenty-seven 
miles  west  of  Rienzi  by  the  direct  road,  but  the  Rebel  escort  con 
ducted  them  by  obscure,  out-of-the-way  paths,  a  distance  of  forty 
miles.  The  men  and  ambulance  were  retained  as  lawful  prizes 
of  war,  while  Mrs.  Pierce  was  turned  over  to  the  Rebel  com 
mander,  who  catechised  her  closely  relative  to  affairs  within  our 
lines.  The  interview  was  unsatisfactory  and  barren  of  results, 
except  to  teach  him  that  he  had  a  woman  of  spirit  and  shrewd 
ness  to  deal  with,  from  whom  he  could  gain  nothing  of  import 
ance  to  his  cause.  She  was  treated  with  courtesy  and  fared  as 
well  as  could  have  been  expected  under  the  circumstances.  The 
next  day  she  was  returned  to  our  picket  lines,  where  in  a  few 
minutes  after,  Capt.  Pierce,  in  a  fever  of  excitement,  arrived 
with  an  ambulance,  and  was  much  relieved  as  well  as  pleased  at 
so  favorable  a  termination  of  his  wife's  adventures  while  in  search 
of  greens. 

The  misfortunes  sustained  by  the  Confederates  in  the  West, 
by  the  destruction  of  their  Mississippi  river  fleet  before  Mem 
phis,  the  capture  of  New  Orleans  and  the  opening  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  above  and  below  Vicksburg,  together  with  the  brilliant 
victories  and  uninterrupted  series  of  successes  attending  our 
Western  armies,  aroused  them  to  the  most  stupendous  efforts. 
The  conscript-law  was  rigidly  enforced ;  every  man  capable  of 
bearing  arms  was  forced  into  the  ranks,  and  their  armies,  which, 
after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  were  demoralized  and  on  the  point 
of  melting  away,  were  subsequently  reinforced  and  greatly 
strengthened. 


212  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Gen.  Hallock's  splendid  army  in  the  meantime  had  been 
broken  up  and  scattered  to  every  point  of  the  compass,  which 
enabled  the  enemy  to  act  on  the  offensive.  The  troops  at  Cor 
inth  and  Rienzi  did  little  but  watch  their  wily  and  energetic  foe 
from  behind  entrenchments,  while  Bragg,  with  augmented  num 
bers,  was  secretly  organizing  for  a  descent  into  Tennessee  and 
Kentucky.  The  hot  summer  weather  was  not  favorable  for  exer 
tion,  and  while  detachments  were  employed  in  building  railroads 
and  in  post  and  guard  duties,  the  enemy  was  harassing  the  posts, 
demonstrating  upon  our  lines  of  communication,  and  sweeping 
unopposed  through  the  country.  Early  in  July  their  cavalry,  to 
the  number  of  four  or  five  thousand,  attacked  Col.  Schneider, 
commanding  an  outpost  held  by  detachments  from  the  2nd  Mich 
igan  and  2nd  Iowa  Cavalry,  armed  with  Spencer  and  Enfield 
rifles,  who,  dismounting,  gave  their  assailants  a  warm  reception. 
The  enemy  found  it  quite  a  different  matter  attacking  men  thus 
armed,  than  in  putting  to  rout,  with  a  yell  and  a  dash,  a  body  of 
men  on  horses,  armed  only  with  revolvers  and  sabres.  A  few 
volleys  cooled  their  ardor  and  sent  them  flying  to  the  rear  with 
greater  rapidity  and  impetuosity  than  they  manifested  in  making 
the  charge.  Heavy  skirmishing  with  the  pickets  continued  for 
six  hours,  when  they  retired,  without  making  an  impression  on 
our  lines.  To  meet  successfully  similar  attacks,  a  battery  was 
sent  to  the  front  with  Companies  B  and  C  of  the  36th,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  Miller,  where  they  remained  several  weeks 
detached  from  the  regiment,  until  relieved  by  Company  F,  which 
remained  on  picket  nearly  as  long.  Other  demonstrations  suc 
ceeded  this,  and  Asboth's,  Hamilton's  and  Jeff.  Davis's  Divisions 
were  several  times  called  to  arms  in  anticipation  of  an  attack. 

In  June,  Gen.  Grant  marched  upon  Holly  Springs  from  Grand 
Junction,  while  Gen.  Hamilton  lead  a  co-operative  column  from 


CELEBRATION    OF   INDEPENDENCE    DAY.  213 

Rienzi.  The  town  was  taken  and  occupied  by  Grant's  troops, 
Gen.  Hamilton  proceeding  only  a  part  of  the  way  and  returning 
without  encountering  an  enemy,  except  flying  detachments  of 
cavalry  that  were  just  saucy  enough  to  keep  the  soldiers  awake 
and  vigilant.  Aside  from  this,  no  other  movement  of  import 
ance  proceeded  from  Rienzi.  Skirmishes  upon  the  picket  line 
and  sudden  alarms  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  So  unexpected 
and  serious  was  one  of  these  attacks  that  storehouses  were  rifled 
of  cotton-bales  and  temporary  breast  works  hastily  erected  for 
defence.  Subsequently  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy  rushed  unex 
pectedly  upon  the  picket  station  on  the  Ripley  road.  Quite  a 
number  of  the  3rd  Michigan  Cavalry,  stationed  at  that  point, 
were  captured.  Moving  rapidly  toward  the  camps,  they  were 
confronted  by  well  constructed  ramparts  of  earth,  behind  which 
gleamed  a  forest  of  polished  bayonets.  The  prospect  was  too 
uninviting  for  a  closer  intimacy,  and,  wheeling  their  horses,  they 
were  away,  carrying  off  their  prisoners. 

Independence  Day  at  Rienzi  was  befittingly  commemorated  by 
a  salute  of  thirty  guns  in  the  morning,  and  more  or  less  firing 
during  the  day.  In  the  afternoon  the  troops  were  marched  to 
brigade  head-quarters,  where  a  stand  had  been  erected,  and  the 
ever  glorious  Fourth-of-July  was  celebrated.  It  was  not  like 
the  usual  celebrations  gotten  up  at  Aurora,  Elgin  and  country 
towns  generally,  where  the  militia,  with  clean  faces,  starched 
collars  and  glittering  uniforms,  meet  and  play  soldiers ;  but  a 
concourse  of  swarthy,  sunburned  men,  armed  with  real  guns  for 
deadly  war,  and  with  real  cannon  ready  at  the  word  to  hurl  their 
missiles  into  the  ranks  of  opponents. 

The  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read,  and  Jefferson's 
immortal  enunciation  of  life,  liberty  and  happiness  to  all,  was 
responded  to  with  cheers.  The  bands  poured  forth  their  liveliest 


214  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

strains,  and  the  stars  and  stripes,  the  hallowed  emblems  of  all 
the  past  glories  of  the  Republic,  floated  in  the  swelling  breeze. 
To  the  universal  and  clamorous  call  for  a  speech,  Col.  Ed.  Joslyn 
responded  with  an  earnestness  proceeding  from  a  heart  thoroughly 
warmed  up  in  the  cause  of  the  country.  It  was  one  of  his  hap 
piest  efforts,  and  was  loudly  applauded.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  Colonel's  stirring  address  the  bands  struck  up  with  the  "Star 
Spangled  Banner,"  and  on  their  return  to  their  quarters  the  love 
of  the  men  for  the  old  flag  was  strengthened  and  the  determina 
tion  intensified  to  mete  out  double  vengeance  to  those  who  should 
trample  its  sacred  folds  beneath  their  traitor  feet. 

Camp  life  at  Rienzi  was  rather  barren  of  incidents,  and  aside 
from  picket  duty  and  the  usual  batallion  and  brigade  drills,  it  was 
of  the  laziest  order.  With  few  opportunities  of  listening  to  the 
music  of  Rebel  bullets,  and  fewer  chances  for  covering  themselves 
with  glory,  the  men  resorted  to  novel  reading,  letter  writing, 
sleeping  and  dreaming.  Magazines  and  newspapers  were  read 
through,  advertisements  and  legal  notices  included,  and  however 
ancient  the  dates,  their  contents  were  ever  interesting  and 
devoured  with  a  zest  never  before  experienced. 

Rations  were  in  abundance,  but  independent  of  the  army  sup 
plies  the  men  generally  helped  themselves  to  sweet  potatoes, 
peaches,  melons,  apples,  blackberries,  and  such  vegetable  pro 
ducts  as  the  country  afforded.  Nearly  all  the  convalescents  from 
the  Missouri  and  Arkansas  campaign,  and  such  as  had  been  on 
detached  service,  except  those  who  by  transfer  or  promotion  had 
become  attached  to  other  organizations,  returned,  and  numeric 
ally  and  in  discipline  the  36th  compared  favorably  with  any 
other  regiment  in  the  field. 

Col.  Greusel  returned  on  the  23d  of  July,  with  health  restored, 
and  in  cheerful  spirits  assumed  command  of  the  regiment. 


GEN.    GRANGEK   PLACED   IN   COMMAND.  215 

The  weather  in  the  meantime  was  fearfully  hot.  Each  day  the 
sun  poured  down  its  fiercest  rays,  driving  men  and  panting 
animals  to  the  forest  shade.  Persons  who  had  endured  the  heat 
of  the  tropics,  or  waded  through  the  fiery  sands  of  Mexico,  con 
fessed  they  had  never  experienced  anything  like  the  heat 
which  prevailed  during  the  summer  of  1862  at  Rienzi.  There 
was  no  thermometer  in  camp  to  mark  the  temperature,  but  Lieut. 
Clark,  a  standard  authority  in  such  matters,  gave  it  as  his  candid 
opinion  that  it  stood  "  somewhere  about  fifteen  hundred  in  the 
shade,"  which  was  too  much  even  for  his  ardent  constitution. 
Some  sickness  prevailed  in  consequence;  Lieut.  Col.  Joslyn 
succumbed  to  the  climate  and  was  compelled  to  go  North. 
Realizing  that  an  officer  away  from  his  command  was  of  little 
service  to  the  country,  he,  together  with  Major  Barry  and  Sur 
geon  Hawley,  tendered  their  resignations.  The  authorities  long 
hesitated  in  accepting  them,  but  they  were  eventually  approved, 
arid  their  connection  with  the  36th  was  ever  after  one  of  the 
pleasing  memories  of  the  past. 

About  the  1st  of  August  Gen.  Granger  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  division,  relieving  Gen.  Asboth,  who  proceeded  to 
Washington  and  was  assigned  to  other  duties.  The  first  orders 
of  the  new  commander  was  the  arrest  of  all  officers  and  sol 
diers  found  away  from  their  commands  without  proper  authority, 
and  for  negligence  while  on  duty  the  most  severe  penalties  were 
threatened.  By  placing  officers  as  well  as  privates  on  the  same 
footing,  a  check  was  put  upon  what  had  become  a  serious  and 
growing  evil.  Gen.  Granger  was  a  strict  disciplinarian,  harsh 
and  often  unreasonable.  For  infractions  of  duty  or  military 
etiquette,  he  could  cause  a  soldier  to  be  tied  by  the  thumbs,  or 
administer  the  lash  with  as  little  compunction  as  he  would  apply 
the  same  mode  of  punishment  to  a  dog. 


216  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Eventually  the  long  summer  days  began  to  wane,  and  were 
succeeded  by  the  fine  marching  weather  of  early  autumn.  From 
certain  precursory  indications  along  .the  lines  of  the  various 
armies  which  confronted  each  other,  it  was  taken  for  granted 
that  more  active  operations  would  soon  be  inaugurated,  and  when 
and  where  were  questions  which  were  uppermost  in  each  soldier's 
mind.  But  day  succeeded  day  and  still  the  troops  remained  in 
their  present  encampments,  the  36th  clinging  to  the  shade  of 
the  venerable  oaks  that  spread  their  protecting  branches  over  the 
camp.  Food  and  clothing  were  in  abundance,  and  once  a  week, 
perhaps,  each  man  took  his  turn  at  guard  mounting,  either  at  the 
post  or  on  the  picket  line.  More  or  less  drilling  consumed  the 
cooler  hours,  while  the  remainder  of  the  day  was  spent  in  idle 
ness.  Somehow  the  letters  written  from  Camp  Rienzi  were 
wonderful  productions  as  to  length  and  frequency,  indicating 
that  business  with  the  boys  was  not  rushing,  and  time  of  but 
little  moment. 

About  head-quarters,  officers'  levees  were  held,  at  which 
were  found  many  bright  intellects  with  rich  stores  of  thought 
and  experience,  who  kept  the  social  current  ever  flowing.  Old 
stories  were  brought  out,  refurbished,  and  told  anew.  Battle 
pictures  were  drawn,  personal  experiences  related,  and  bits  of 
humor  sparkled  around  the  circle  like  flashes  of  electric  light. 
At  such  times  camp  life  was  relieved  of  some  of  its  prosy  dull 
ness,  and  ceased  to  be  a  hum-drum  affair. 

One  day,  however,  camp  was  thrown  into  a  feverish  state  of 
excitement  by  a  sudden  dash  of  Rebel  cavalry  upon  the  1st  Kan 
sas  Regiment,  which  was  encamped  about  a  mile  from  Rienzi. 
They  had  managed  to  slip  by  the  outer  cavalry  pickets,  and  so 
dense  was  the  cloud  of  dust  which  covered  their  movements  that 
the  infantry  could  not  determine  their  character,  but  supposed 


GALLANT    CONDUCT    OF    KANSIANS.  217 

them  to  be  our  own  cavalry  until  it  was  too  late  to  give  the 
alarm.  In  some  mysterious  manner  the  Kansians  had  received 
notice  of  the  movement,  and  as  the  enemy  neared  their  camp  on 
a  gallop,  perfectly  confident  of  a  surprise  and  easy  conquest  of 
the  Kansas  troops,  they  were  met  by  a  close  and  well  directed 
volley  from  the  seven-shooting  Spencers  with  which  the  1st  was 
armed.  Many  saddles  were  emptied,  and  the  riderless  horses 
sent  into  the  fields  and  woods,  followed  by  the  whole  Rebel 
command,  with  a  host  of  yelling  Federals  close  at  their  heels. 
The  rattle  of  musketry  spread  the  alarm  through  the  camps. 
Troops  were  promptly  under  arms,  ammunition  dealt  out,  artillery 
horses  harnessed,  guns  brought  into  position,  and  every  prepara 
tion  made  for  an  attack.  It  was  believed  that  heavy  supporting 
columns  were  following  up  the  cavalry,  and  that  a  general 
engagement  would  ensue.  The  troops  remained  under  arms 
during  the  day  and  were  ordered  to  sleep  with  their  guns  by  their 
side  at  night.  The  pickets  were  strengthened,  the  guards 
doubled,  and  every  precaution  taken  against  surprise.  The 
Kansians,  however,  had  effectually  scattered  the  enemy,  and  the 
men  were  generally  glad  that  the  threatened  matinee  had  been 
postponed  to  a  later  day  and  more  suitable  weather. 

Such  was  the  audacity  of  these  prowling  Rebel  bands  that  the 
utmost  vigilance  on  the  part  of  officers  and  sentinels  on  picket 
was  required  to  guard  against  surprise  and  night  attacks.  One 
night,  after  Rebel  cavalry  had  been  reported  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  the  pickets  were  cautioned  to  be  more  than  ordinarily 
alert.  Joseph  Sanders,  of  Company  Gr,  being  stationed  in  an 
exposed  and  rather  threatened  position,  was  very  watchful. 
About  midnight  his  ear  caught  the  sound  of  crackling  brush, 
and  peering  into  the  gloom  he  discovered  a  moving  object  in  the 
edge  of  the  timber.  Supposing  it  to  be  a  man  in  his  shirt  sleeves, 

15 


218  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

he  called  out,  "Who  comes  there?"  No  response  being  given, 
he  fired  upon  the  object,  thereby  arousing  the  officer  of  the 
guard,  who  hurried  to  the  post,  and  on  being  directed  to  the  spot 
where  the  suspicious  prowler  had  been  seen,  found  a  spotted  cow 
in  the  last  agonies 'of  death.  Joe  was  laughed  at  by  his  com 
rades,  but  complimented  by  the  officers  for  his  vigilance  and 
superior  markmanship. 

Very  soon  after  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  the  cavalry  compa 
nies  belonging  to  the  regiment  were  placed  on  detached  service. 
Capt.  Jenks  was  appointed  Provost  Marshal  at  Corinth,  the 
command  of  Company  A  devolving  upon  Lieut.  Sherer.  Capt. 
Smith,  of  Company  B,  was  arrested  on  charges  which  had  pre 
viously  been  preferred  against  him,  and  was  subsequently 
cashiered  and  dismissed  from  the  service,  his  company  in  the 
meantime  being  commanded  by  Lieut.  Francis  E.  Reynolds. 
Company  B  was  on  detached  service  from  the  time  of  its  arrival 
at  Corinth,  first  as  escort  to  Gen.  Rosencrans,  subsequently  for 
Gens.  Granger,  Asboth  and  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  reporting  to  the  latter 
for  duty  July  24th,  and  participating  in  the  Buell  campaign  to 
Nashville,  through  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  to  Louisville.  An 
independent  cavalry  company  on  escort  duty  has  so  many  oppor 
tunities  for  feats  of  dash  and  daring,  both  as  a  company  and 
individually,  that  we  have  no  doubt,  had  this  portion  of  the  his 
tory  of  Company  B  been  written,  it  would  appear  that  hardly  a 
day  passed  but  some  member  or  members  of  the  company,  in 
carrying  orders,  acting  as  advance  or  rear  guard,  or  as  scouts, 
would  be  immortalized  by  acts  of  gallantry  and  adventure. 
We  regret  that  the  materials  before  us,  relative  to  this  portion 
of  the  history  of  Company  B,  are  so  meagre  that  we  can  only 
give  an  outline  of  its  marches  and  vicissitudes. 


CO.    A    ON    DETAIL    DUTY.  219 

Company  A  was  detailed  as  escort  to  Gen.  Hamilton,  then 
commanding  three  brigades.  In  the  latter  part  of  June,  Gen. 
Hamilton  marched  with  a  strong  force  from  Corinth,  via  Rienzi 
and  Ripley,  towards  Holly  Springs,  to  co-operate  with  Gen. 
Sherman  in  a  movement  upon  that  place.  The  town  was  cap 
tured  by  the  latter  force,  and  Gen.  Hamilton  returned  with  his 
division  to  the  neighborhood  of  Jacinto,  and  subsequently  to  his 
former  camp  at  Corinth.  While  at  Ripley,  detachments  from 
Company  A  scouted  the  country  far  and  near,  capturing  many 
noted  secesh,  among  whom  was  William  Boyd,  a  member  of  the 
Confederate  Congress.  On  the  30th  of  July,  the  company  was 
detailed  as  escort  for  Gen.  Rosencrans,  with  head-quarters  any 
where  where  night  overtook  him  :  sometimes  at  Corinth,  then  at 
Rienzi  or  Jacinto,  while  details  for  other  commanders  and  other 
purposes  were  frequent.  Fourteen  men  remained  with  Gen. 
Granger,  fourteen  others  with  Gen.  Stanley,  and  a  large  portion 
of  the  company  was  scattered  over  the  country  as  orderlies, 
on  escort,  or  other  service  requiring  superior  tact,  enterprise  and 
industry.  One  phase  of  army  life,  and  the  haphazard  nature  of 
detached  service,  may  be  illustrated  by  the  story  of  "CoL." 
DUFF. 

One  of  the  drollest  characters  of  Company  A  was  Nathaniel 
Duff,  of  Sandwich.  He  was  of  Irish  extraction,  and  endowed 
with  an  unusual  amount  of  native  wit.  There  was  always  fun  in 
camp  when  Duff  was  there.  A  boon  companion  was  James  Mc- 
Mullen,  and  it  was  universally  conceded  that  the  two  could  take 
up  more  honey,  gather  more  apples,  pick  more  chickens  and  con 
fiscate  more  forage  than  any  other  six  men  in  the  army.  After 
the  arrival  of  the  company  in  Mississippi,  Duff  was  detailed  as 
an  orderly  for  Gen.  Sullivan.  The  honor  was  no  sooner  con 
ferred,  than  he  secured  a  couple  of  eagles  from  the  heading 


220  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

of  a  newspaper,  mounted  them  on  cardboard,  pinned  them  upon 
his  shoulders  and  announced  himself  as  COL.  DUFF.  It  was  not 
long  before  his  title  was  acknowledged "  by  the  rank  and  file. 
Shortly  after  Duff's  " promotion,"  he  was  sent  on  an  errand:  as 
he  returned  to  head-quarters,  when  passing  the  guard  he  brought 
his  hand  to  the  side  of  his  face,  after  the  style  of  a  Lieutenant 
General,  but  for  some  cause  was  unnoticed,  and  failed  to  receive 
the  customary  salute  accorded  to  field  officers.  Suddenly  wheel 
ing  his  horse  and  drawing  his  sabre,  he  exclaimed,  u  D — n  it, 
man,  why  don't  you  salute  the  Kernel  ?  Are  yer  eyes  so  poor 
you  can't  see  my  shoulder-straps  ?"  Duff  appeared  so  terribly 
in  earnest  as  to  frighten  and  confuse  the  guard,  who  brought  his 
musket  up  to  a  "  present "  in  double  quick  time.  Ever  after 
that  the  "Kernel"  received  the  .proper  salute  when  he  was 
known. 

At  the  battle  of  Inka,  Duff  ventured  too  far  to  the  front  and 
was  wounded  with  a  minnie  ball.  He  managed  to  get  to  head 
quarters,  but  the  wound  not  being  properly  cared  for,  gangrene 
set  in.  He  was  removed  to  a  hospital  at  Keokuk,  Iowra,  where 
he  died  of  his  wounds,  December  4th,  1863. 

'The  subsequent  history  of  Company  A  was  entirely  distinct 
from  the  infantry  arm  of  the  regiment.  Seldom  were  the  two 
in  the  same  department,  and  as  the  company  not  long  afterward 
was  assigned  to  the  15th  Cavalry,  we  shall  notice  its  brilliant 
career  in  a  separate  chapter. 

Resignations  and  changes  among  officers  were  of  frequent 
occurrence.  Many  who  at  the  outset  had  vowed  to  stand  by 
their  men  to  the  last,  in  their  intense  anxiety  to  see  their  wives, 
their  children  or  sweethearts,  threw  up  their  commissions  and 
retired  from  a  service  which  their  experience  at  Rienzi  during 
the  long  summer  of  1862,  taught  them  was  one  of  inglorious 


OFFICERS    OF   THE    REGIMENT.  221 

inaction.  Some  had  had  enough  of  soldiering,  while  others  from 
disappointment,  and  chafing  because  promotion  did  not  come 
soon  enough  to  fill  the  measure  of  their  ambition,  left  the  ser 
vice.  Notwithstanding  their  exit,  the  affairs  of  the  nation  went 
right  along  as  usual,  and  but  few  realized  the  loss  the  country 
had  sustained  by  being  thus  deprived  of  their  valuable  services. 
Ill  health  forced  from  us  many  brave  fellows  who  were  ready  and 
willing  to  stand  up  arid  face  the  dread  realities  of  battles,  whose 
devotion  and  courage  had  been  tried  on  the  blood-stained  fields 
of  Arkansas  and  Missouri.  Others,  unable  to  realize  that  wait 
ing  is  an  essential  element  of  war,  grew  restive  at  the  delays  and 
inactivity  incident  to  the  development  of  military  plans.  Bat 
tles  and  victories  looked  to  them  a  long  way  off,  and  not  being 
possessed  of  the  power  of  omniscience,  to  see  that  the  day  of 
glory  was  sure  to  come,  left  the  rich  harvest  to  be  gathered  by 
others  more  patient  and  willing  to  watch  and  wait. 

The  following  were  some  of  the  changes  about  this  time  or 
shortly  after  among  the  officers  of  the  36th : 

Lieut.  Col.  E   S.  Joslyn.  resigned,  succeeded  by  Albert  Jenks. 
Major  A   H.  Barry,  resigned,  succeeded  by  Silas  Miller. 
Capt.  M.  B.  Baldwin,  Co.  A,  resigned,  succeeded  by  Geo.  D.Sherman. 
Capt.  Silas  Miller,  Co.  B,  promoted,  succeeded  by  Beuj.  F.  Campbell. 
Capt.  E.  B.  Baldwin,  Co.  C,  promoted,  succeeded  by  Jas.  B.  McNiel. 
Capt.  Wm.  P.  Pearce,  Co.  D,  promoted,  succeeded  by  Geo.  D.  Parker. 
Capt.  Chas.  D.  Fish,  Co.  E,  resigned,  succeeded  by  Albert  M.  Hobbs. 
Capt.  Merit  L.  Joslyn,  Co.  H,  resigned,  succeeded  by  T.  L   Griffin. 
Capt.  J.  Q.  Adams,  Co.  K,  resigned,  succeeded  by  Aaron  G.  Holden. 
Capt.  Albert  Jenks,  Co.  A  Cav.,  promoted,  succeeded  by  G  A.  Willis. 
Capt.  H.  A.  Smith,  Co.  B  Cav.,  dismissed,  succeeded  by  S.  B.  Sherer. 

Many  of  these  changes  and  promotions  were  made  in  the  reg 
ular  order  of  rank.  Some  were  for  meritorious  services  at  Pea 
Ridge,  or  in  the  umbrageous  shade  of  the  oaks  at  Rienzi.  Col. 
Greusel  was  not  without  his  share  of  militarv  honors,  and  was 


222  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

placed  in  command  of  a  brigade  composed  of  the  36th,  44th  and 
27th  Illinois,  the  2nd  Iowa  Infantry  and  the  1st  Indiana  Battery. 
The  same  meed  of  praise  and  lavishness  of  honors  was  bestowed 
upon  privates  as  well  as  officers,  and  it  was  thought  that  the 
authorities  at  Springfield  or  Washington,  from  whence  many  of 
the  commissions  emenated,  regarded  the  whole  regiment  as  a  band 
of  heroes,  worthy  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  The  36th  had 
the  honor  of  furnishing  officers  for  other  State  organizations, 
some  of  whom  taken  from  the  ranks  attained  the  position  of 
Colonel.  Among  these  were  : 

M.  La  Rue  Harrison,  private  Co.  K,  to  Colonel  1st  Arkansas  Cavalry. 
James  Roseman,  private  Co.  G,  to  Lieutenant  1st  Arkansas  Cavalry 
Fred.  A.  Raymond,  Sergeant  Major,  to  Captain  in  127th  Illinois. 
Addison  A.  Keyes,  Q.  M.  Sergeant,  to  Lieutenant  in  127th  Illinois. 
Bent.  D.  C.  Holland,  Corporal  Co.  A,  to  Lieutenant  in  16th  U.  S.  C.  1. 
Jas.  H.  Moore,  private  Co.  A,  to  Lieutenant  71st  Illinois  Infantry. 
Robt.  N.  Thompson,  private  Co.  B,  to  Lieutenant  1st  Arkansas  Cav. 
Geo.  W.  Raymond,  private  Co.  D,  to  Captain  1st  Arkansas  Infantry. 
L.  G.  Bennett,  Corporal  Co.  E,  to  Major  4th  Arkansas  Cavalry. 
Thos.  W.  Chandler,  Sergeant  Co.  G,  to  Major  in  127th  Illinois  Vol. 
David  H.  Dickson,  Corporal  Co.  K,  to  Lieutenant  in  16th  U.  S.  C.  I. 
Jas.  J.  Johnson,  Sergeant  Co.  B  Cav.,  to  Major  1st  Arkansas  Cavalry. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

RIENZI  TO  LOUISVILLE. 

JURING  the  summer  of  1862,  the  different  armies  in 
the  West,  like  gladiators,  manoeuvred  for  positions 
from  which  to  strike  effective  blows.  After  the 
evacuation  of  Corinth,  Beauregard  fell  back  to 
Tupelo,  his  troops  demoralized,  and  their  ranks 
considerably  thinned.  Subsequently  he  retired  from  the  army 
on  the  plea  of  ill  health,  but  the  want  of  success  in  his  manage 
ment  of  affairs  in  the  West,  somewhat  clouded  the  brilliant  repu 
tation  he  had  gained  at  the  commencement  of  the  war.  The 
large  army  which  Gen.  Hallock  had  gathered  at  Corinth,  in  a 
short  time  was  broken  into  fragments  and  scattered  over  a  wide 
extent  of  country,  each  detachment  so  absorbed  in  building 
railroads,  maintaining  long  lines  of  communication,  and  guard 
ing  Southern  plantations,  as  to  leave  little  time  to  attend  to  the 
main  business  in  hand — the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion. 

A  column  under  Gen.  Buell  moved  leisurely  eastward  into 
Tennessee,  and  in  the  direction  of  Chattanooga,  which  Beaure 
gard  in  his  retreat  had  left  uncovered.  With  the  exception  of  a 
small  force  in  Eastern  Tennessee,  there  was  at  that  time  no  Con 
federate  troops  in  the  State,  and  by  a  little  exertion  on  the  part 


224  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

of  Gen.  Buell,  both  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville  might  have  been 
captured,  and  the  State  freed  of  the  last  vestige  of  a  Rebel  army. 
Strong  positions  in  Alabama  and  Georgia  could  have  been 
occupied  from  whence  successful  movements  in  any  direction 
might  have  interposed  a  barrier  and  frustrated  all  attempts  of 
the  enemy  to  gain  a  foothold  in  either  Tennessee  or  Kentucky, 
the  battles  subsequently  fought  in  the  environs  of  Louisville  and 
Murphysboro  would  have  been  transferred  to  soil  more  steeped 
in  rebellion,  and  these  States  escaped  the  pillage,  destruction 
and  ruin  which  marked  the  progress  of  armies  within  their 
borders.  Instead  of  this,  the  army  was  halted,  and  remained 
idle  at  Nashville.  Unimportant  expeditions  were  sent  out,  where 
movements  in  force  should  have  been  made.  No  obstacles  were 
interposed  or  plans  devised  to  thwart  their  designs  upon  these 
States.  In  fact,  barriers  were  thrown  down  and  invasion  invited. 

Gen.  Bragg,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Confeder 
ate  forces,  prepared  to  assume  the  offensive.  His  cavalry  and 
numerous  guerilla  bands  swarmed  around  the  posts  occupied  by 
our  troops,  for  the  purpose  of  mystifying  the  Federal  commander 
in  regard  to  his  ulterior  purposes,  which  were  to  slip  by  his  hes 
itating  foes,  and  by  a  bold  and  rapid  movement  into  Kentucky, 
menace  Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  and  compel  the  withdrawal  of 
armies  which,  at  a  cost  of  much  treasure  and  blood,  had  obtained 
a  firm  foothold  in  the  heart  of  the  Confederacy.  The  plan  was 
well  conceived,  and  to  carry  it  out  successfully  the  whole  vast 
energies  of  the  South  were  concentrated.  Reinforcements  were 
drawn  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  the  conscription 
rigidly  enforced,  adding  large  numbers  of  fighting  men  to  the 
ranks. 

The  country  was  friendly,  and  no  long  lines  of  communication 
needed  protection.    The  inaction  succeeding  the  Federal  successes 


KIRBY  SMITH'S  MOVEMENTS.  225 

achieved  during  the  winter  and  early  spring,  gave  them  abund 
ant  opportunities  to  recuperate,  which  they  were  not  slow  to  take 
advantage  of,  and  the  prospects  of  the  Confederacy  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi  every  day  grew  brighter.  The  situ 
ation  of  affairs  changed  materially,  and  everything  favored  the 
invasion  by  the  combined  armies  of  Bragg  and  Kirby  Smith, 
who,  if  they  gained  nothing,  had  but  little  to  lose.  The  magni 
tude  of  the  interests  involved  certainly  justified  a  movement 
which,  under  other  circumstances,  might  be  deemed  extra  haz 
ardous  and  rash. 

Early  in  August,  Kirby  Smith  commenced  his  march  north 
ward  from  East  Tennessee,  pushed  his  columns  over  mountains, 
subsisting  upon  the  scanty  products  of  the  country,  and  unop 
posed  reached  Richmond,  in  the  heart  of  Kentucky.  The 
scattered  Federal  garrisons  were  attacked  in  detail  and  over 
powered,  offering  little  or  no  resistance.  Richmond,  Lexington 
and  Frankfort,  one  after  the  other  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Confederate  leader.  The  Federals  lacked  Generals  of  military 
intuition,  and  of  sufficient  nerve  to  hold  in  hand  and  successfully 
wield  an  army,  and  want  of  combination  worked  their  ruin. 

While  Kirby  Smith  was  demonstrating  in  the  direction  of 
Covington  and  Cincinnati,  Bragg's  army  was  operating  further 
south,  having  entered  Tennessee  by  the  way  of  Chattanooga, 
keeping  up  a  show  of  offensive  attack  upon  Nashville,  and  at  the 
same  time  pushing  his  way  northward,  capturing  Mumfordsville 
and  other  garrisoned  towns  on  his  route,  and  in  a  short  period  of 
time  accumulating  ten  thousand  Federal  prisoners  of  war.  He 
in  a  great  measure  succeeded  in  deceiving  Buell  as  to  his  real 
object  until  he  was  fer  on  his  way  to  Louisville.  His  purposes 
were  at  length  discovered  by  means  of  intercepted  dispatches, 
and  had  Gen.  Buell's  movements  been  characterized  by  his 


226  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

usual  slowness  and  deliberation,  he  would  have  come  out  second 
best  in  the  military  race  which  succeeded,  and  all  the  grand 
achievements  of  our  armies  in  the  West  in  the  earlier  months  of 
the  year,  with  the  immense  sacrifice  of  valuable  lives  offered  up 
on  the  altar  of  the  country,  would  have  been  expended  in  vain. 
The  country  was  seized  with  consternation  at  the  imminent 
danger  which  menaced  the  cities  on  the  Ohio  river.  The  excite 
ment  at  Cincinnati  was  so  great  as  to  paralyze  business,  and  the 
citizens  stood  appalled  at  the  threatened  peril  of  the  city.  The 
Governors  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky  issued  their  proclamations, 
calling  out  the  militia  as  well  as  all  able  bodied  citizens  to  take 
up  arms  in  defence  of  their  respective  States.  Those  from  Ohio 
flocked  in  mass  to  Cincinnati  with  such  arms  as  could  be  gathered 
up  in  the  country,  presenting  about  as  motly  an  assemblage  of 
" squirrel  hunters,"  farmers  and  backwoodsmen,  as  was  ever 
brought  together.  Poorly  armed,  undisciplined,  and  without  a 
competent  leader,  the  city  was  nearly  as  much  endangered  as 
secured  against  Rebel  assault.  At  this  crisis  Gen.  Lew  Wallace 
was  placed  in  command,  and  essayed  to  bring  order  out  of  the 
general  chaos  which  reigned  supreme. 

Gen.  Grant  was  called  upon  to  furnish  such  of  his  veteran 
regiments  as  could  be  spared  from  his  department.  His  response 
was  prompt,  and  orders  were  at  once  issued  for  a  portion  of  the 
troops  at  Rienzi  to  proceed  forthwith  to  Cincinnati.  Col.  Greu- 
sel's  brigade  was  among  those  selected,  and  in  obedience  to  the 
following  order,  the  troops  were  in  motion  for  Corinth  at  six 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  September  6th: 

HEAD-QUARTERS  RIENZI,  SEPT.  6th. 

COLONEL: — You  will  leave  in  the  morning  with  your  command 
for  Columbus,  Kentucky.  If  on  your  arrival  you  should  find 
river  transportation  for  Louisville,  Kentucky,  you  will  proceed 


UNDER   WAY   FOR   COLUMBUS.  227 

to  that  point  without  delay,  and  report  to  Brig.  Gen.  Boyle. 
While  en  route  to  Columbus  you  will  have  guards  properly 
arranged  and  stationed  on  the  cars,  so  as  to  guard  against  any 
and  every  attempt  of  guerillas  to  surprise  you  or  molest  the 
train.  At  all  stopping  places  guards  will  be  thrown  out  on  each 
flank,  and  to  the  front  and  rear,  so  as  to  secure  the  safety  of  the 
train  and  your  command.  Your  troops  will  keep  their  arms  in 
hand  from  the  moment  of  their  departure  from  Corinth,  until 
their  arrival  at  Columbus.  All  officers  will  remain  with  their 
companies  and  at  their  posts.  These  precautions  and  instruc 
tions  will  be  strictly  observed  day  and  night  on  the  river  or  cars. 
You  will  report  your  arrival  at  Columbus  to  me  by  telegraph. 
Your  obedient  servant,  G.  GRANGER, 

Brigadier  General  Commanding. 
COL.  N.  GREUSEL,  Commanding  2d  Brigade. 

There  was  a  necessity  for  just  such  an  order  as  this,  for  guer 
illa  bands  were  ranging  the  country,  and  cavalry  raids  were  not 
unfrequent.  Never  was  summons  to  march  more  welcome. 
Tired  of  serving  the  country  in  camp  under  the  shadow  of  Mis 
sissippi  oaks,  any  change  was  hailed  with  delight.  Before  sun 
rise  the  wagons  were  loaded,  and  at  six  o'clock  the  column  was 
en  route  for  Corinth.  The  shady  avenues  of  Camp  Rienzi, 
deserted  and  still,  were  never  more  to  be  tenanted  by  the  36th, 
yet  the  many  pleasant  associations  connected  with  it,  will  ever 
linger  in  the  hearts  and  memories  of  the  men. 

The  day  was  hot,  but  the  men  marched  well,  and  the  inter 
vening  miles  were  quickly  measured.  Arrangements  were  made 
for  transferring  such  stores  and  equipments  as  were  to  be  taken 
along,  while  the  remainder  were  turned  over  to  the  Post  Quarter- 
Master.  The  next  morning  all  were  safely  crowded  upon  the 
train,  and  shortly  under  way  for  Columbus.  Every  car  was 
packed,  and  numbers  climbing  upon  the  top,  blackened  the  decks, 
their  muskets  grasped  and  gleaming  in  the  bright  sunshine. 


228  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

while  bayonets,  protruding  from  doors  and  windows,  made  the 
cars  resemble  huge  porcupines,  with  every  quill  erect,  ready  for 
the  onset. 

Among  officers,  and  to  some  extent  among  the  men,  there  was 
not  the  most  perfect  feeling  of  security.  The  recent  movements 
of  Price  and  VanDorn  in  the  vicinity  of  Holly  Springs  had 
resurrected  every  Rebel  bushwhacker  in  the  country,  who,  issu 
ing  from  their  retreats,  were  perpetrating  outrages  upon  loyal 
citizens,  burning  bridges,  obstructing  railroads,  and  firing  upon 
passing  trains  with  impunity.  The  whole  country  was  suffering 
from  their  ravages,  and  it  was  not  at  all  improbable  that  the 
command  might  be  the  recipients  of  a  volley  from  some 
secret  ambuscade.  The  country  offered  every  facility  for  such  a 
purpose,  being  heavily  timbered,  the  shadowy  depths  and 
tangled  undergrowth  furnishing  opportunities  for  assailants  to 
retire  in  safety.  Thoughts  of  danger  from  this  source  were 
banished  entirely  as  the  train  neared  Columbus,  which  place  was 
reached  at  six  o'clock  in  the  evening.  A  rain  set  in,  rendering 
it  anything  but  pleasant  transferring  the  stores  from  the  cars  to 
an  empty  storehouse  near  the  depot.  Then  distributing  them 
selves  promiscuously  about,  the  men  found  quarters  and  shelter 
from  rain  in  empty  buildings  and  sheds.  The  next  day  the  reg 
iment  embarked  upon  the  steamer  Tecumseh,  reaching  Cairo  in 
the  evening,  and  at  once  transferred  the  baggage  and  camp 
equipage  to  the  cars  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 

On  the  trip  to  Cairo  a  misfortune  befell  Company  G,  in  the 
loss  of  "Jack,"  a  favorite  dog,  who  by  some  mishap  was  either 
drowned,  or  by  other  means  came  to  an  untimely  end.  This 
dog  was  recruited  in  a  somewhat  mysterious  manner  at  Rolla, 
Missouri,  and  was  adopted  by  the  company,  to  which  he  became 
devotedly  attached.  He  was  a  splendid  specimen  of  the  canine 


LIQUID    SUPPLIES.  229 

species,  a  cross  between  a  bull  and  a  mastiff.  "Jack's"  forte 
was  in  catching  hogs,  and  as  a  forager  had  not  an  equal.  When 
ever  fresh  meat  was  wanting,  "Jack's"  services  were  indispens 
able  in  securing  it.  At  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  he  unfortu 
nately  came  in  violent  collision  with  a  Rebel  bullet,  and  for  some 
time  was  disabled  for  service.  His  wounds  were  dressed  by  his 
comrades,  and  in  a  short  time  he  reported  for  duty  again.  He 
was  never  known  to  fail  in  the  hour  of  need,  and  when  his  con 
nection  with  the  regiment  was  severed,  the  men  of  Company  G 
bewailed  the  fate  of  poor  "Jack." 

The  levee  at  Cairo  was  literally  covered  with  boxes,  bales, 
barrels  and  stores  designed  for  the  various  armies  operating  in 
the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  river  valleys.  A  few  raw,  unsophisti 
cated  recruits,  fresh  froni  the  green  fields  of  the  North,  were  on 
guard  to  protect  these  stores  from  theft  or  destruction.  A  pile 
of  barrels,  some  of  them  marked  eggs  and  other  creature  com 
forts  not  contraband  of  war  supposed  to  be  conducive  to  the 
health  and  happiness  of  soldiers  in  the  field,  was  presided  over 
by  a  light-haired  and  freckle-faced  youngster  in  the  garb  of  a 
soldier,  who,  with  musket  in  hand,  was  supposed  to  be  looking 
after  the  safety  of  said  barrels.  Unfortunately  for  the  guard, 
(and  we  may  say  for  the  regiment)  toward  the  end  of  his  relief 
he  was  caught  napping,  and  in  the  confusion  incident  to  the 
transfer  from  boat  to  cars,  a  number  of  barrels  became  unac 
countably  mixed  with  regimental  property  and  loaded  on  the 
train.  On  examination,  each  barrel  was  found  to  contain  a  keg 
of  Bourbon,  snugly  packed  in  straw  or  chaif.  The  nature  of 
the  prize  became  known  throughout  the  command,  and  during 
the  long  ride  over  the  Central  Road  to  Odin,  whisky,  ice,  eggs 
and  commissary  sugar,  thoroughly  mixed,  circulated  freely,  and 
as  a  natural  consequence  the  boys  were  unusually  smiling  and 


230  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

happy.  Some  became  oblivious  to  the  world  and  the  surround 
ings,  and  were  tenderly  laid  away  in  the  litter  and  dirt  of  the 
cattle  cars. 

Through  Illinois  the  trip  was  hurried,  and  neither  citizens  or 
soldiers  were  particularly  demonstrative.  But  at  the  Indiana 
State  line  the  patriotic  "Hoosiers"  turned  out  in  thousands, 
and  the  choicest  viands  their  larders  afforded  were  brought  out 
and  forced  upon  the  troops  without  money  and  without  price. 
At  Seymour,  on  the  arrival  of  the  train,  tables  were  already 
spread  and  laden  with  all  the  delicacies  as  well  as  substantial^ 
which  the  country  afforded,  to  which  the  soldiers  were  heartily 
welcomed.  Great  and  boisterous  was  the  rejoicing  of  the  people 
at  the  appearance  of  the  "  Regulars,"  as  the  soldiers  were  called. 

Their  progress  from  Vincennes  to  Cincinnati  was  a  continuous 
ovation.  The  roads  were  lined  and  the  stations  thronged  with 
enthusiastic  and  excited  multitudes,  ready  with  their  sustenance 
to  feed  the  men  and  welcome  and  cheer  them  through  the  State. 
How  marked  the  contrast  with  the  studied  coldness  or  open 
hostility  of  the  people  at  the  South.  What  an  infinite  differ 
ence  between  riding  by  rail  through  a  region  densely  populated 
with  an  intelligent,  well-to-do  and  patriotic  people,  with  fields 
smiling  with  abundant  harvests,  and  the  weary,  toilsome  march 
ing  through  the  wilds  of  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 

The  brigade  arrived  at  Cincinnati  at  two  o'clock  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  llth.  Debarking  from  the  train,  the  column  was 
formed  and  marched  to  the  head-quarters  of  Gen.  Wallace,  which 
were  in  the  upper  stories  of  a  centrally  located  business  block. 
On  arriving,  Col.  Greusel  went  up  several  flights  of  stairs 
to  the  General's  room,  in  person  reported  his  brigade,  and  asked 
for  orders  and  quarters  for  his  men.  Gen.  Wallace,  supposing 
him  to  be  a  new-fledged  militia  brigadier  with  a  rabble  of  "squir- 


\    COOL    RECEPTION.  231 

rel  hunters  "  at  his  heels,  somewhat  crustily  directed  him  to 
quarter  his  men  on  the  first  vacant  sidewalk  he  could  find,  and 
remain  there  until  morning  for  orders. 

This  was  rather  rough — entirely  unlike  the  kindly  hospitali 
ties  of  the  "  Hoosiers,"  but  the  Colonel  was  too  much  of  a 
soldier  to  ask  questions  or  demur,  and  proceeded  sullenly  down 
stairs  to  obey  orders.  In  fact,  he  was  angry,  and  on  gaining  the 
street,  where  his  tired  and  sleepy  men  were  laying  wearily 
about  on  boxes,  sidewalks  and  curbstones,  he  thundered  his  orders 
in  tones  that  rivalled  the  voice  of  a  cannon.  "  Attention,  Batal- 
lion !  Shoulder  Arms  !  Right  Wheel !  Right  Shoulder-shift— 
Forward — Guide  Right — March  !"  In  all  the  turmoil  and 
excitement  of  the  times,  the  streets  of  Cincinnati  had  not  rever 
berated  orders  so  strictly  military  as  those.  Not  one  in  a  thou 
sand  had  a  voice  as  stentorian  as  Col.  Greusel  in  those  days. 
His  orders  were  heard  many  blocks  away,  and  the  startled  citi 
zens  flew  to  the  windows  and  peered  into  the  darkness,  thinking, 
perhaps,  Kirby  Smith  or  U01d  Nick"  himself  had  surely  come. 

Gen.  Wallace  was  about  as  much  astonished  as  the  denizens  of 
the  city,  and  at  once  every  officer  and  attachee  about  head-quar 
ters  were  at  the  windows  gazing  down  upon  the  long  line,  every 
man  in  his  place,  marching  with  the  regularity  and  precision  of 
regulars.  The  General  gave  a  hurried  order,  and  an  aide-de 
camp  came  rushing  down  to  the  street,  shouting,  "Stop  that 
Brigade — stop  that  Brigade!"  The  Colonel  enquired,  "What's 
wanted  now  ?"  "  Oh,  sir,  the  General  took  you  for  militia,  who 
for  the  last  week  have  nearly  worried  him  to  death.  Halt  your 
command  and  come  up  stairs.  Gen.  Wallace  wishes  to  see  you." 
A  halt  was  ordered ;  the  General  was  profuse  with  his  explana 
tions  and  apologies,  and  directed  the  Colonel  to  send  the  troops, 


232  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

under  another  officer,  to  the  City  Market  Hall,  where  the  best 
the  city  afforded  awaited  them. 

This  was  even  so.  Tables  were  set.  loaded  with  viands  as 
toothsome  as  manna,  and  presided  over  by  little  less  than  a  brig 
ade  of  ladies,  the  beauty  and  worth  of  Cincinnati.  At  sight  of 
the  tempting  meal  set  before  them,  the  soldiers,  who  for  five  days 
had  been  trundled  and  tumbled  about  in  close  box-cars  to  their 
supreme  disgust,  exchanged  their  scowling  for  countenances  more 
in  harmony  with  the  genial  and  hospitable  surroundings.  When 
all  was  ready,  they  took  their  places  and  partook  of  the  bounties 
set  before  them  as  orderly  as  an  orthodox  Sunday  School  at  a 
pic-nic.  Their  slightest  wishes  were  promptly  attended  by  beau 
tiful  ladies,  who,  like  winged  flowers,  glanced  hither  and  thither, 
supplying  all  their  sharpened  appetites  craved,  and  urging  them 
to  partake  of  more.  Breakfast  over,  three  as  hearty  cheers  for 
the  ladies  of  Cincinnati  as  ever  stirred  the  midnight  air  rang 
through  Market  Hall.  This  to  the  tired  soldiers  was  the  ideal 
breakfast  of  their  lives,  about  which  there  lingered  a  fascination 
in  their  memories  for  many  a  day.  Then  with  fealty  to  their 
home-loves  for  the  time  sadly  impaired,  they  quietly  took  their 
places  in  the  ranks  and  early  in  the  morning  were  marched  across 
the  "bonnie  Ohio"  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  to  the  city  of  Coving- 
ton,  Kentucky,  where  temporary  quarters  were  assigned  them  in 
the  City  Market  House. 

Kirby  Smith,  with  forty  thousand  Rebel  troops,  was  reported 
but  a  few  miles  distant,  and  marching  upon  the  city.  The  excite 
ment  of  the  people  was  at  fever  heat.  The  militia  of  Ohio  and 
Indiana  were  pouring  into  the  city  in  vast  floods.  The  public 
parks,  the  sidewralks  and  every  available  square  inch  of  space  was 
occupied  by  the  undisciplined  rabble  of  "squirrel  hunters"  and 
farmers  fresh  from  field  and  plow,  partially  armed  with  shot-guns 


CINCINNATI'S  FEARS  ALLAYED.  233 

and  old  rifles,  making  quite  as  rusty  an  appearance  as  Price's 
horde  of  copper-bottomed  Missourians.  Ohio  was  awake  to  the 
requirements  of  the  hour,  and  when  Governor  Todd  issued  his 
proclamation  for  troops,  the  citizens  grasped  rusty  fire-locks  and 
responded  in  mass  to  the  call.  Men  seventy  years  of  age,  with 
heads  whitened  for  the  grave,  and  boys  fifteen  years  old,  rushed 
to  the  front  and  lined  the  rifle  pits,  hastily  thrown  up  to  cover 
the  approaches  to  the  city.  Martial  law  was  proclaimed,  business 
houses  closed,  and  all  work  but  that  of  arms  suspended.  Gov 
ernor  Todd  was  there  in  person,  bubbling  over  with  patriotism, 
but  knowing  little  of  military  matters  or  of  disciplining  the 
mighty  host  he  had  evoked.  All  had  "blood  in  their  eyes,"  and 
were  fully  bent  on  "damaging  Rebels"  if  they  ever  came  within 
reach  of  their  long-ranged  rifles. 

With  the  arrival  of  Greusel's  brigade  of  veteran  troops,  whose 
mettle  had  been  tried  on  the  battle-field,  the  fears  of  the  citizens 
were  at  once  allayed.  With  such  troops  behind  breast-works, 
which  each  hour  were  being  strengthened,  they  felt  that  a  suc 
cessful  resistance  could  be  offered  to  all  the  assaults  which  Kirby 
Smith  could  organize  against  them.  Never  was  there  such  a 
revulsion  of  feeling  from  despondency  to  confidence,  as  was 
experienced  by  the  citizens  of  Cincinnati  on  the  arrival  of  the 
"Pea  Ridge  Brigade."  A  great  weight  was  lifted  from  their 
hearts,  and  they  could  not  too  warmly  testify  their  satisfaction 
and  gratitude.  Stores  were  thrown  open,  and  such  of  their  wares 
as  the  soldiers  wanted  were  at  their  command  without  remunera 
tion.  Cheers  followed  their  march  through  the  city,  flags  floated 
from  house-tops,  and  the  streets  presented  the  appearance  of  a 
vast  laundry  from  the  handkerchiefs  which  fluttered  from  every 
window.  We  doubt  if  the  dread  scenes  of  subsequent  conflicts 

16 


234  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

are  more  indelibly  stamped  upon  the  memory  of  the  soldiers  than 
the  reception  accorded  them  by  the  citizens  of  a  grateful  city. 

Col.  Greusel  was  placed  in  command  of  nineteen  regiments, 
who  were  furnished  with  picks  and  shovels  and  set  to  work  upon 
the  intrenchments  in  rear  of  Covington.  They  worked  like  bea 
vers,  and  vast  embankments  gradually  enclosed  the  city. 

The  36th  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Miller,  of  Company  B, 
the  senior  officer  present  for  duty.  Covington  had  many  attrac 
tions  for  the  men,  who  wandered  away  from  the  Market  House 
singly  or  in  squads,  and  when  the  Captain  called  for  a  detail  for 
the  performance  of  some  fatigue  duty,  scarcely  a  man  could  be 
found.  Those  in  the  quarters  were  put  on  guard,  with  orders  to 
prevent  any  from  passing  out,  while  the  city  provost  guard  and 
police  were  directed  to  arrest  the  stragglers  wherever  found  and 
bring  them  in.  But  few  delinquents  were  caught,  and  many  of 
those  remaining  managed  to  slip  by  the  guards  and  get  away. 
The  Captain's  patience  was  sorely  tried;  he  declared  it  as  his 
belief  that  if  but  one  man  remained  in  the  quarters  and  all  the 
residue  of  the  regiment  were  set  over  that  man,  he  would  devise 
some  way  to  elude  the  guards  and  escape.  At  supper-time  all 
were  in  their  places,  hungry  as  sharks,  sedate  as  high  churchmen, 
seemingly  quite  unconscious  of  having  disturbed  the  equanimity 
of  their  commanding  officer,  or  of  being  guilty  of  unmilitary 
conduct  in  ranging  over  the  city,  and  away  from  their  quarters 
without  permission. 

The  next  day  the  36th  marched  to  a  position  near  the  line  of 
fortifications  in  rear  of  Covington.  relieving  a  regiment  of 
Cincinnati  militia,  made  up  of  clerks  and  book-keepers.  Their 
camp  presented  more  the  appearance  of  a  lady's  boudoir  than  the 
temporary  quarters  of  soldiers.  In  addition  to  their  muskets 
and  accoutrements,  each  was  armed  with  a  brace  of  wine  and 


LOUISVILLE,    THE    REBEL    OBJECTIVE    POINT.  235 

Bourbon  bottles  tucked  beneath  their  waistbands.  Their  com 
missary  was  garnished  with  lager  beer  kegs,  champagne  baskets, 
hams,  crackers,  sardines  and  oysters,  while  as  many  women  as 
men  were  in  camp,  looking  after  the  morals  and  ministering  to 
the  comfort  of  their  "brave  soldier  boys."  The  veterans  were 
in  hopes  Kirby  Smith  would  make  an  attack,  just  to  give  these 
"counter  hoppers"  a  chance  to  enjoy  a  mixture  of  gunpowder 
and  lead  with  their  other  luxuries,  and  afford  an  opportunity  to 
display  their  valor.  Just  imagine  a  charge  upon  a  fortification 
with  a  musket  in  their  hands,  a  baby  on  one  arm  and  a  wife 
clinging  to  the  other  !  When  they  were  gone  the  thirsty  "  Pea 
Ridge  boys  "  occupied  their  quarters,  and  had  a  good  time  smell 
ing  empty  bottles  and  beer  kegs.  While  at  this  camp,  William 
W.  Kerns,  of  Company  G,  was  accidently  shot.  A  stack  of  guns 
falling  over,  one  of  them  exploded  ;  the  ball  penetrating  his  side, 
shattered  a  rib  and  disabled  him  for  six  months.  This  was  the 
only  casualty  to  the  36th  during  the  campaign. 

For  six  days  the  troops  lay  in  the  trenches  on  the  banks  oi  the 
Licking,  in  constant  expectation  of  an  attack.  But  the  move 
ment  of  the  main  Confederate  force,  under  Bragg,  toward  Louis 
ville,  the  sudden  departure  of  Kirby  Smith  from  before  Coving- 
ton,  and  his  forced  march  and  junction  with  Bragg  at  Frankfort, 
threw  off  the  mask  which  had  so  long  enveloped  their  plans,  and 
left  no  room  for  doubt  that  Louisville  was  the  real  objective  point 
of  the  campaign.  The  excitement  which  a  few  days  before  had 
prevailed  in  Cincinnati,  was  now  transferred  to  Louisville,  and 
frantic  calls  for  veteran  troops  were  made  upon  the  Department 
commanders.  Gen.  Nelson,  who,  after  the  defeat  at  Richmond, 
had  fallen  back,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  city,  and 
proceeded  to  arm  the  citizens,  to  fortify  and  place  the  city  in  a 
complete  state  of  defence.  Cincinnati  being  no  longer  menaced, 


236  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Col.  Greusel  was  ordered  to  proceed  to  Louisville  with  his  com 
mand.  The  greater  portion  of  the  troops  embarked  upon  trans 
ports  and  proceeded  down  the  Ohio  river,  requiring  nineteen 
steamers  to  transport  the  command,  which  had  now  assumed  the 
proportion  of  a  division.  While  the  boats  were  passing^  the  city 
the  people  crowded  the  wharves  and  waved  a  heartfelt  adieu. 

The  36th  proceeded  by  rail  via  Indianapolis  and  Seymour,  of 
pleasant  memory,  reaching  Jeffersonville  at  noon  on  the  19th. 
Such  was  the  press  of  business  incident  to  the  confusion  growing 
out  of  the  panic  that  the  ferries  and  ordinary  methods  for  cross 
ing  the  river  were  crowded  with  fugitives  from  the  panic-stricken 
city,  and  were  inadequate  for  the  purposes  of  transportation. 
Other  troops  had  the  precedence,  and  the  36th  waited  at  Jeffer 
sonville  until  evening  before  being  ferried  over ;  then  marching 
five  miles  they  went  into  camp  in  a  cemetery  in  the  south-east 
ern  suburbs  of  the  city. 

The  exciting  and  somewhat  exaggerated  reports  which  were 
being  circulated  of  Bragg' s  nea,r  approach,  and  the  overwhelming 
numbers  of  his  forces,  filled  Louisville  with  alarm.  Merchants 
hastily  removed  the  contents  of  their  stores  across  the  river,  and 
household  goods,  in  many  instances,  were  carried  a  hundred  miles 
into  the  interior  of  Indiana.  Women,  children  and  non-com 
batants  generally  were  sent  away,  that  in  case  of  a  bombardment 
there  might  be  no  helpless  and  frenzied  objects  of  compassion  to 
cumber  the  movement  of  troops  and  retard  the  defence.  Col. 
Greusel,  as  at  Cincinnati,  was  put  in  charge  of  the  defences,  and 
under  his  spuervision  earth-works  were  constructed,  extending 
around  the  city  from  the  Marine  hospital  to  the  banks  of  -the 
Ohio.  The  able-bodied  citizens  were  pressed  into  service  against 
their  inclination,  and  set  to  work  in  the  trenches,  digging,  sweat- 


ALARM  AND  TERROR  OF  THE  CITIZENS.         237 

ing  and  swearing,  while  the  veterans,  with  arms  in  hand,  stood 
by  to  see  that  each  did  his  duty  without  shirking. 

Each  hour  but  intensified  the  terror  of  the  people,  and  every 
preparation  was  made  for  the  reception  of  the  doughty  knights 
under  Smith  and  Bragg,  when  on  the  25th  of  September  Gen. 
Buell  entered  Louisville  instead  of  Bragg,  he  having  come  out 
ahead  in  the  race  across  Kentucky.  Even  then,  from  a  general 
lack  of  confidence  in  Buell's  generalship,  the  apprehension  of  the 
people  was  not  entirely  allayed.  On  his  arrival  he  found  an  order 
from  the  War  Department'  suspending  him,  and  placing  Gen. 
Thomas  in  command,  which  the  latter  absolutely  refused  to 
assume,  and  by  his  persistent  efforts  succeeded  in  having  the 
order  recalled  and  Gen.  Buell  retained. 

After  the  junction  of  Buell's  and  Nelson's  forces,  the  army- 
numbered  nearly  a  hundred  thousand  men,  a  majority  of  whom 
were  old  soldiers,  whose  valor  had  been  tested — a  number  suffi 
cient,  if  skillfully  handled,  to  have  annihilated  Bragg  and  swept 
his  vagabond  hordes  from  existence.  Buell's  army  was  worn 
down  with  hard  marching,  and  poorly  clothed.  The  enemy 
was  likewise  suffering  from  similar  causes,  and  no  good  reason 
existed  why  the  forces  then  assembled  at  Louisville  should  have 
been  detained  there  a  whole  week,  during  which  the  country  was 
ravaged  and  property  destroyed  to  the  value  of  many  million 
dollars. 

On  the  29th,  Gen.  Nelson  was  shot  by  Gen.  Jeff'.  C.  Davis 
and  killed.  This  affair  resulted  from  the  insolence  of  the  former 
which  Gen.  Davis  would  not  endure.  Nelson  had  long  been  con 
nected  with  the  regular  service,  and  though  a  man  of  courage  and 
a  strict  disciplinarian,  was  rough  and  overbearing  in  his  demeanor 
to  inferiors.  To  retort  was  sure  to  be  followed  by  insult  and  often 
with  blows.  This  was  rather  more  than  many  of  the  impetuous 


238  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and  hot-blooded  officers  would  patiently  endure.  Nelson  had 
assigned  Davis  to  an  unimportant  command  over  raw  and  insub 
ordinate  home-guards,  who  were  constantly  vibrating  between 
their  homes  and  commands,  and  it  was  extremely  difficult  for  an 
officer  to  tell  at  a  given  time  the  exact  number  he  could  depend 
upon  in  case  of  an  emergency.  At  this  time  Nelson  met  Davis 
in  the  hall  of  one  of  the  principal  hotels  of  Louisville,  and  in  an 
imperious  manner  asked  the  number  in  his  command.  Davis 
could  give  only  the  approximate  number,  at  which  Gen.  Nelson 
flew  into  a  passion  and  struck  Gen.  Davis  in  the  face.  The  latter 
borrowed  a  pistol  from  a  bystander  and  shot  the  former  while 
passing  up  the  hotel  stairs. 

Gen.  Nelson's  insolence  not  only  impaired  his  usefulness  as  an 
officer,  but  alienated  the  aifections  of  the  men  who  served  under 
him.  The  people,  particularly  negroes,  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact,  were  treated  by  him  more  like  serfs  than  free  men.  At 
the  funeral,  when  the  coffin  was  brought  out  and  the  remains 
exhibited  to  the  assembled  thousands,  a  passing  cloud  obscured 
the  rays  of  the  sun,  when  the  poor  negroes  who  were  present, 
with  one  voice  exclaimed,  "De  Lord  am  done  gone  and  hid  His 
face  from  one  dat  kicks  de  cullered  folks  and  break  dar  bones/' 

Gen.  Gilbert  succeeded  Nelson  in  the  command  of  the  Third 
Corps,  in  which  was  the  36th,  being  part  of  the  37th  Brigade  in 
Sheridan's  Division.  The  Brigade  was  composed  of  the  36th, 
44th,  88th  Illinois,  the  24th  Wisconsin  and  the  21st  Michigan 
Regiments  of  Infantry,  with  Hiscock's  Missouri  and  Barrett's 
2nd  Illinois  Batteries,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Greusel. 


CH-APTER    XVIII 


ADVANCE    INTO    KENTUCKY. 


|N  THE  1st  of  October,  after  the  Rebel  cavalry 
had  quite  effectually  raided  upon  and  devastated 
the  country  up  to  our  picket  lines.  Gen.  Buell 
marched  out  with  a  formidable  army  in  quest  of 
the  enemy.  The  columns  were  cumbered  with 
wagon-trains  over  twenty-two  miles  in  length, and 
moved  exceedingly  slow,  averaging  about  ten  miles  a  day.  Gen. 
Gilbert's  crops  occupied  the  Bardstown  pike,  passing  through  a 
country  far  different  in  appearance  from  the  rough  chert  hills  of 
Missouri  or  the  marshy  lagoons  of  Mississippi,  a  region  that  had 
felt  but  little  of  the  rude  effects  of  war,  and  smiling  in  autumnal 
beauty.  Here  and  there  elegant  country  seats  adorned  the  way 
side,  and  at  the  gates  of  many  stood  the  occupants,  tendering 
cups  of  water  to  the  men,  while  from  window  or  piazza  ladies 
waved  their  handkerchiefs — woman's  banner  in  grief  or  joy — in 
token  of  patriotic  sympathy.  The  pike  was  one  crowded  mass 
of  infantry,  cavalry,  artillery  and  wagon  trains,  moving  in  double 
lines  and  rumbling  over  the  solid  but  dusty  'road.  Fields,  farm 
yards  and  woods  were  full  of  soldiers,  and  when  the  marching 


240  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

columns  had  passed,  many  of  the  plantations  were  denuded  of 
poultry,  pigs  and  sheep.  Slowly  feeling  its  way,  the  army  moved 
against  the  Rebel  invaders,  affording  ample  opportunities  for 
stragglers  to  elude  their  officers  and  depredate  upon  hen-roosts 
and  potato  fields. 

Stringent  orders  against  foraging  were  promulgated  by  Gen. 
Gilbert,  and  much  of  that  officer's  time,  and  by  far  the  most 
onerous  of  his  duties,  was  the  protection  of  the  hen-roosts  and 
"truck  patches  "  of  the  fellow  citizens  of  his  native  State,  many 
of  whom  were  away  from  home  and  might  have  been  found  in  the 
gray  Confederate  ranks  under  Bragg,  ready  to  shoot  down  at 
sight  the  soldiers  in  blue,  guarding  their  homes  and  plantations 
from  pillage.  A  little  episode  upon  this  march  illustrates  the 
testy  disposition  of  Gen.  Gilbert,  the  coolness  of  Capt.  Miller, 
and  the  fearless  devotion  of  the  men  to  their  comrades  and  com 
mander.  The  weather  was  warm,  and  the  men  somewhat 
fatigued,  when  the  regiment  halted  a  few  moments  by  the  way 
side,  opposite  an  orchard,  the  trees  of  which  were  loaded  with 
delicious  fruit.  A  few  of  the  men  scaled  the  fence  and  were 
filling  their  pockets  with  apples,  when  Gen.  Gilbert  chanced  to 
pass  that  Way  and  caught  them  in  the  " infamous  act"  of  steal 
ing.  The  General  was  furious,  and  ordered  his  escort  to  fire 
upon  the  men  thus  engaged.  The  order  was  scarcely  uttered, 
when  every  man  by  the  wayside  sprang  to  his  feet,  seized  his 
musket,  and  the  ramming  of  cartridges  and  click  of  gun-locks 
was  fearfully  ominous,  and  warned  the  escort  to  desist  from  put 
ting  the  order  into  execution.  The  General  saw  the  look  of 
defiance  and  determination  gleaming  from  the  eyes  of  the  men, 
and  did  not  repeat  his  heartless  order  the  second  time,  but  angrily 
demanded,  "  Where  is  the  officer  in  command  of  these  mis 
creants?"  Capt.  Miller,  who  was  sitting  cross-legged  upon  his 


CAPT.    MILLER    AND    A    KENTUCKY   GENERAL.  241 

horse,  was  pointed  out.  The  General  advanced,  and  with  harsh 
invectives  assailed  him.  The  Captain  remained  cool  as  if  in  a 
drawing-room,  and  to  the  torrent  of  abuse  curtly  replied,  ''General, 
' '  one  word  from  me  will  call  the  boys  out  of  that  orchard  a  d — d 
"  sight  sooner  than  you  can  shoot  them  out;  and  should  it  come 
"  to  that,  I  have  the  honor  to  assure  you,  General,  that  my  boys 
"  never  allow  themselves  to  be  outdone  in  this  shooting  business. 
"  I  think  your  fellows  had  better  put  up  their  shooting  irons,  for 
"  the  first  flash  of  a  carbine  at  one  of  them  boys  will  be  the  death 
"  knell  of  every  mother's  son  that  has  a  hand  in  the  business." 
Such  insubordination  could  not  be  overlooked  by  one  of  Gen. 
Gilbert's  phlegmatic  temperament,  and  the  whole  regiment  was 
ordered  under  arrest. 

The  country  was  undulating,  and  from  the  summits  of  the 
higher  elevations  one  could  look  back  over  the  line  of  march  and 
see  the  long  blue  columns  streaming  over  the  gentle  acclivities, 
the  bayonets  glistening  in  the  sunshine,  while  in  front  the  mighty 
coil  of  armed  men  stretched  away  among  the  picturesque  hills 
until  lost  in  the  hazy  distance.  In  the  evening,  temporary  camps 
were  formed  along  the  banks  of  streams  and  water  courses,  while 
mile  upon  mile  of  camp  fires  flecked  the  hill-sides,  wrapped  the 
country  in  flame,  and  lighted  up  the  misty  air  of  night  with  a 
weird,  sapphire  glow,  presenting  a  scene  grand  beyond  conception. 
The  troops,  after  finishing  their  suppers,  retired  to  some  leafy 
couch  under  the  thick  foliage  of  trees,  arid  sought  repose. 

In  perusing  the  pages  of  the  men's  journals,  relative  to  the 
incidents  connected  with  this  campaign,  we  find  little  worthy  of 
notice  transpiring  on  the  inarch  from  Louisville  to  Perryville. 
All  were  in  fine  spirits  and  eager  for  an  encounter  with  the  ene 
my,  who  were  slowly  retiring  with  their  plunder  before  the 
advance  of  our  solid  columns.  Each  day  yielded  its  usual  har- 


242  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

vest  of  rumors,  frequently  throwing  the  newly  formed  regiments 
into  a  fever  of  excitement,  but  not  disturbing  the  equanimity 
of  the  older  troops. 

Eventually  these  rumors  were  changed  to  reality,  as  the  cav 
alry  came  in  contact  with  the  rebel  rear  guard,  and  frequent  skir 
mishes  marked  the  progress  of  the  advance.  The  squads  of  lean 
and  ragged  rebel  prisoners  captured  in  these  encounters,  as  they 
marched  to  the  rear,  were  regarded  with  the  utmost  curiosity  by 
the  new  troops,  now  upon  their  first  campaign.  Some  taunted 
them  as  traitors,  while  others  comforted  them  with  words  of  pity 
for  the  unfortunate  condition  in  which  they  were  placed. 

Near  Bardstown,  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  was  overtaken, 
who  manifested  a  desire  to  dispute  our  further  progress.  A  halt 
was  ordered,  skirmishers  thrown  out,  the  artillery  brought  up,  and 
considerable  firing  at  long  range  ensued.  The  advance  guard 
was  principally  made  up  of  new  troops,  it  being  the  day  when  the 
36th  and  the  older  troops  of  Sheridan's  Division  were  in  the  rear. 
The  enemy  stubbornly  maintained  their  ground,  presenting  a 
bold  front,  against  which  our  skirmishers  and  field  guns  made  but 
little  impression.  Matters  began  to  wear  a  serious  aspect,  and  a 
general  engagement  was  immediately  expected.  This  was  con 
trary  to  Gen.  Buell's  policy,  which  was,  apparently,  to  keep  just 
as  far  from  Bragg  as  possible  and  maintain  the  semblance  of 
pursuit,  and  if,  by  accident,  the  enemy  should  be  encountered,  to 
fight  him  lightly.  Orders  were  sent  back  for  Greusel  and  Lei- 
bold's  Brigades  of  veterans  to  advance  at  once,  to  ascertain  the 
temper  and  disposition  of  the  enemy.  In  a  few  moments  the 
troops  were  under  arms  and  moving  at  a  double-quick  down  the 
dusty  road,  cheering  as  they  ran,  with  little  Phil  Sheridan,  their 
division  commander,  at  their  head,  as  noisy  and  enthusiastic  as  if 
in  a  buffalo  hunt,  and  with  words  of  cheer  which  rang  out 


ON  THE  MARCH  IN  KENTUCKY.  243 

like  "  Napoleon's,"  inspiring  his  men  with  confidence  equal  to  a 
reinforcement  of  a  thousand  men.  Reaching  the  point  of  threat 
ened  conflict,  they  were  only  in  time  to  see  the  gray  backs  of  the 
foe  they  were  in  search  of  disappear  in  rapid  retreat.  Disap 
pointed  and  sullen,  the  troops  returned  three  miles  to  camp,  heartily 
despising  a  foe  whose  courage  oozed  out  at  sight  of  men  who 
meant  fight. 

On  the  6th,  the  36th  Regiment  was  detailed  as  rear  guard,  and 
did  not  get  under  way  till  noon.  The  country  was  broken  and 
parched  with  summer  heats.  Water-courses  were  dried  up  and 
the  few  springs  filled  with  offal  of  the  retreating  enemy  and  ren 
dered  unfit  for  use.  Here  and  there,  tall  chimneys,  built  accord 
ing  to  southern  fashion,  on  the  exterior,  and  a  few  charred  and 
smouldering  remains,  marking  the  site  of  ruined  mansions,  told  of 
the  devastation  of  war  and  the  fearful  retribution  which  the  pas 
sions  of  men  had  inflicted  upon  once  peaceful  and  prosperous 
communities.  Aside  from  the  gray  ashes  which  marked  the 
place  where  houses  and  fences  once  stood,  this  part  of  Kentucky 
was  a  fair  land  to  look  upon.  Its  gracefully  rounded  hills  and 
dark  masses  of  wood,  robed  in  autumnal  glory,  combined  to  make 
a  bright  and  beautiful  picture,  in  spite  of  the  fresh  traces  of  the 
destroyer  and  the  ruins  around  which  gathered  the  dejected  and 
houseless  owners,  brooding  over  the  fragments  of  their  ruined 
possessions. 

This  day's  march  was  about  as  severe  as  any  the  troops  had 
been  subjected  to.  Without  water,  they  pushed  on  through 
blinding  clouds  of  dust,  that  darkened  the  sun  and  yet  added 
intensity  to  its  heat.  They  passed  through  Springfield,  a  half- 
deserted  and  dilapidated  town,  odorous  with  bad  whiskey  and 
rebellion,  and  did  not  reach  camp  until  eleven  o'clock  at  night. 
The  summer  and  autumn  had  been  unusually  hot ;  the  fields  were 


244  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

parched,  the  grass  withered,  and  thirsty  soldiers  looked  with 
wearied  eyes  on  the  beds  of  streams  and  rivers,  either  totally  dry, 
or  shrunken  into  little,  heated,  tired-looking  threads  of  water — 
brackish  and  disagreeable  to  taste  and  smell. 

The  few  springs  and  sparkling  brooks  were  usually  monopo 
lized  by  Gen.  Gilbert,  who  sent  an  aid  in  advance  to  select  roman 
tic  spots  near  by,  in  which  was  pitched  the  General's  marquee,  and 
a  detachment  of  body  guards  posted  to  protect  the  sacred  precincts, 
as  well  as  the  spring,  from  intrusion.  Near  the  close  of  this  sultry 
day,  the  36th,  soiled  with  dust  and  famished  with  thirst,  came  up 
to  a  spring  of  clear,  cold  water,  near  which  were  located  the 
headquarters  of  Gen.  Gilbert.  The  men,  acting  upon  the  cam 
paign  maxim,  "  wherever  and  whenever  you  can  secure  a  square 
meal  or  a  drink  of  cold  water,  do  so,"  eagerly  crowded  around 
the  spring,  with  the  inevitable  tin  cup  and  canteen,  quaffing  great 
draughts  of  the  refreshing  beverage,  to  quench  a  thirst  of  eight 
or  ten  hours  duration.  A  dapper  little  staff-officer  came  up  and 
ordered  the  boys  away,  to  which,  for  awhile,  they  paid  no  more 
attention  than  to  the  cackling  of  a  hen,  but  persisting  in  his 
impertinence,  a  broad-shouldered,  ungainly  private  of  Company 
B  knocked  him  down  with  the  butt  of  his  gun — effectually  silenc 
ing  him  for  the  time  being.  Thereupon  Gen.  Gilbert  came  out 
in  person  and  reiterated  the  command,  ordering  Capt.  Miller  to 
move  on  with  his  regiment.  The  Captain  courteously  but  firmly 
remonstrated,  telling  the  General  "that  his  men  had  marched 
since  before  mid-day  without  water  ;  that  the  heat  was  oppressive ; 
that  his  men  were  suffering  from  thirst,  and  that  the  refusal  of 
water  under  such  circumstances  showed  a  want  of  common 
humanity."  Geri.  Gilbert  was  irritated  at  this  manly  protest 
and  ordered  his  body-guard  to  charge  upon  and  drive  the  men 
away  from  the  spring.  Captain  Miller,  nothing  daunted,  directed 


GEN.    GILBERT    SQUELCHED    BY    CAPT.    MILLER.  245 

his  men  to  fix  bayonets  and  run  the  first  man  through  who  should 
molest  them,  until  they  got  what  water  they  wanted.  To  be  thus 
defied  by  a  little,  wiry  Yankee  captain,  was  more  than  Kentucky 
dignity  could  stand,  and  addressing  his  body-guard  (a  detachment 
of  the  2nd  Kentucky  Cavalry)  he  said,  "Yemen  of  Kentucky  ! 
will  you  allow  this  insult  to  your  General  to  go  unrebuked  arid 
unpunished !  If  you  are  men,  and  have  any  regard  for  your  honor 
as  Kentuckians,  you  will  instantly  disperse  this  insolent  mob, 
and  arrest  every  one  who  refuses  compliance  with  orders."  It 
was  then  Capt.  Miller's  turn  to  talk,  and  turning  to  the  men,  he 
said,  "Boys,  massacre  every  mother's  son  of  them  that  dares  to 
lay  a  finger  upon  you  until  your  canteens  are  filled,"  and  turn 
ing  to  the  body-guard  and  staff  of  the  General,  "if  you,  or  any 
other  Kentuckian.  want  to  die  on  your  own  native  soil,  now  is 
your  chance  to  do  so,  for  by  the  Great  Eternal,  my  men  are  going 
to  have  all  the  water  they  want,  before  marching  another  foot. 
If  you  want  to  die,  come  on !"  But  they  did  not  come  on  worth 
a  cent,  and  Gen.  Gilbert  returned  chagrined  to  his  tent,  and  the 
36th  remained  masters  of  the  situation. 

The  advance  camped  in  the  near  vicinity  of  the  enemy's  rear 
guard,  with  whom  the  cavalry  had  skirmishes  all  day,  resulting 
in  the  killing  and  wounding  of  a  few.  whom  they  left,  in  their 
hurried  retreat,  by  the  roadside,  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  pur 
suers.  Surgeon  Young,  whose  humanity  equaled  his  patriotism, 
caused  some  of  their  dead  to  be  buried,  and  attended  to  their 
wounded  with  the  same  considerate  care  bestowed  upon  our  own 
sick  and  suffering  soldiers.  A  score  or  more  of  half-clothed  pris 
oners  were  taken,  who  looked  wan,  pale  and  thin  from  the  many 
privations  to  which  they  had  been  subjected.  Ragged  and  dirty 
as  they  were,  they  elicited  the  respect  of  the  older  soldiers,  who 
had  learned  how  well  they  fought,  how  bravely  and  persistently 


246  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

they  had  stood  up  for  their  cause,  bad  as  it  was.  As  was  remarked 
by  an  officer  who  had  them  in  charge.  "Though  not  inspired  by 
God,  they  certainly  are  possessed  of  the  devil,  and  have  acted 
bravely  the  part  their  master  commanded  them  to  play." 

The  opposition  increased  as  the  army  advanced,  the  cavalry 
skirmishing  almost  continually  with  the  Rebel  rearguard.  Com 
pany  B  Cavalry,  under  the  gallant  Capt.  Sherer,  was  attached  to 
Gen.  Mitchell's  Division,  and  did  good  service  in  reconnoitering, 
scouring  the  country,  ever  hanging  upon  the  enemy's  rear,  and 
whenever  an  opportunity  offered,  charging  upon  such  bodies  as 
seemed  determined  to  stand,  who  usually  wavered  and  fled  before 
the  withering  blast  from  their  carbines  without  waiting  to  feel 
their  keen-edged  sabres. 

The  morning  of  the  7th  broke  clear  and  bright,  and  the  wel 
come  rattle  of  carbines  betokened  that  the  cavalry  were  early  at 
their  work.  The  conflict,  which  for  the  last  three  days  had  been 
momentarily  expected,  all  felt  could  not  much  longer  be  delayed. 
The  37th  Brigade  headed  the  advance,  and  cheerfully  the  men 
moved  to  the  dangerous  task  before  them.  The  columns  were 
massed  and  kept  well  in  hand,  advancing  slowly  and  cautiously 
in  readiness  for  battle,  the  enemy  stubbornly  contesting  every 
inch  of  ground.  On  the  crests  of  hills  and  at  every  available 
point  of  defence,  heavy  bodies  of  troops  formed  in  dense  lines  for 
the  protection  of  their  rear,  and  anon  the  blue  smoke-wreaths 
flashing  from  out  their  waving  line,  and  the  sharp  ring  of  mus- 
ketrp  was  the  greeting  our  cavalry  received.  Against  the  serried 
ranks  they  moved,  shot  answering  shot,  steadily  driving  the 
enemy  before  them.  Occasionally  from  the  summits  of  hills,  up 
and  over  which  wound  the  crooked  road,  dense  columns  of  the 
enemy,  many  miles  in  extent,  might  be  seen  moving  in  perfect 
order.  Then  long-ranged  rifled  parrots  would  be  brought  up. 


CAPT.    HOBBS    IN    DANGER.  247 

placed  in  position,  and  rounds  of  solid  shot  sent  hissing  after  the 
departing  force,  producing  but  little  effect  beyond  hurrying  the 
retreat.  The  sullen  booming  of  cannon,  mingled  with  the  patter 
ing  fire  of  musketry  and  carbines,  served  to  arouse  the  energies 
of  the  troops,  who  felt  something  of  the  old  inspiration  which 
the  music  of  flashing  guns  never  failed  to  impart,  and  as  a  result, 
there  was  much  less  straggling  than  usual. 

As  the  division  descended  the  southern  slope  of  a  range  of 
hills  two  or  three  miles  north  of  Perryville,  the  sunset  hues  were 
filling  the  west  with  gorgeous  beauty.  The  eye  took  in  a  varied 
landscape  of  hill  and  vale,  field  and  woodland,  alas!  soon  to  echo 
fhe  roar  of  artillery,  and  rattle  of  musketry,  to  be  seamed  and 
defaced  by  plunging  shot  and  shrieking  shell,  and  to  witness 
scenes  and  incidents  that  would  afford  interesting  topics  for  fire 
side  talks  that  would  last  during  the  rest  of  the  monotonous  lives 
of  the  denizens  of  these  secluded  valleys.  The  army  camped  in 
a  hollow  or  depression  among  the  hills,  but  a  mile  and  arhalf  dis 
tant  from  the  position  of  the  main  Rebel  army.  In  front  was  a 
hill  of  gradual  ascent,  covered  with  brush,  scattering  timber  and 
small  cornfields.  The  usual  picket  guard  was  doubled,  and  strong 
details  of  picked  men  were  required  from  the  36th  and  other  reg 
iments  composing  the  division.  Capt.  Hobbs,  of  Company  E, 
was  officer  of  the  guard,  and  proceeded  silently  up  the  slope  with 
his  detachment  in  skirmish  line,  through  the  intervening  brush 
and  across  fields  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  established  the  picket 
line  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  camp.  A  dense  forest  lay  in 
front,  and  here  and  there  across  its  dark  aisles  the  straggling 
moonbeams  glanced,  while  in  the  patches  of  light  the  shadowy 
forms  of  Rebel  pickets  were  occasionally  seen  gliding  from  tree 
to  tree.  But  a  few  yards  intervened  between  the  hostile  lines  : 


248  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  changing  of  reliefs,  and  murmur  of  voices  in   low   conversa 
tion,  could  be  indistinctly  heard. 

Capt.  Hobbs,  in  the  performance  of  his  duty  as  officer  of  the 
guard,  while  passing  between  the  stations,  frequently  mistook  the 
shadows  of  the  timber  for  picket  posts,  and  strayed  near  to  and 
almost  within  the  enemy's  lines.  Once,  while  approaching  a  post 
from  the  direction  of  the  enemy,  he  was  taken  for  a  Confederate, 
and  a  member  of  his  own  company  was  on  the  point  of  firing 
upon  him.  It  was  a  beautiful,  quiet,  moonlight  night.  All  were 
on  the  alert,  and  the  breaking  of  a  twig,  the  rustle  of  a  leaf  or 
the  gentle  sigh  of  a  zephyr,  attracted  immediate  attention  and 
found  the  watchful  sentinels  in  readiness  for  any  emergency. 
Thus  the  hours  passed.  The  night  crept  on  towards  morning. 
Faint  bars  of  gray  tinged  the  hill-tops,  one  by  one  the  stars  dis 
appeared,  the  leaden  sky  gave  way  to  azure  blue,  and  the  position 
of  the  opposing  pickets  was  disclosed  in  plain  sight  and  near  at 
hand.  The  changing  of  reliefs  was  taken  for  a  movement,  and 
a  rattling  fire  of  musketry  commenced  with  the  dawn  of  morning. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

BATTLE    OF    PERRYVILLE. 

daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  shrill 
blast  of  the  bugle  aroused  the  slumbering  camps, 
and  a  hastily  prepared  breakfast  was  as  hastily  eaten. 
Staff  officers  and  orderlies  rode  hither  and  thither  on 
various  duties.  The  new  troops  were  full  of  excite 
ment  and  watched  with  interest  the  preparations  going  on  around 
them.  Then  a  line  of  battle  was  formed  and  gradually  advanced, 
pushing  the  enemy  back,  while  random  shots  heightened  the 
interest  and  awoke  the  echoes  of  the  morning.  Reaching  the 
crest  of  the  hills,  officers  with  field  glasses  scanned  the  opposite 
heights  and  intervening  valleys,  seeking  to  learn  the  enemy's 
position  and  unravel  the  mystery  which  shrouded  their  move 
ments.  The  men  in  the  ranks  could  not  distinguish  a  single  bat 
tery  or  discern  the  movements  of  a  brigade.  Scarcely  a  batallion 
of  the  men  in  gray  were  in  sight.  Behind  the  opposite  crest 
they  lay,  rank  upon  rank,  partially  hidden  by  the  inter 
vening  foliage  and  natural  inequalities  of  the  ground.  Scarcely 
was  our  line  developed  along  the  broken  summit  of  the  hills,  when 
smoke  clouds  leaped  in  sudden  puffs  from  the  opposite  ridges, 
which  were  crowned  with  hostile  cannon.  One  by  one  the  descend- 
17 


250  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

ing  shot  dropped  within  our  lines,  and  soon  all  became  familiar 
with  the  shrill  whizzing  music  of  iron  projectiles.  Our  cannon 
were  then  set  at  work,  and  eloquently  responded  to  the  volleyed 
thunder  from  the  distant  hill-tops.  Skirmishers  were  deployed 
and  swept  across  the  intervening  valley,  up  the  opposite  slope, 
under  cover  of  the  artillery,  closely  followed  by  strong  columns 
in  support.  The  cessation  of  their  artillery  fire  and  the  inter 
mittent  blaze  of  musketry  along  the  skirmish  line,  indicated  the 
withdrawal  of  the  enemy  and  their  formation  in  a  new  position 
upon  the  hills  a  half  mile  in  rear  of  the  first. 

Orders  being  received  to  hold  the  hill  at  all  hazards,  Barrett's 
battery  of  the  2nd  Illinois  Artillery  was  advanced  to  the  position 
just  vacated,  the  36th  Illinois  Infantry  moving  forward  to  its 
support,  taking  a  position  in  the  timber  on  the  right  of  the  road 
and  partially  in  rear  and  right  of  the  battery.  The  88th  Illinois 
Volunteers  were  posted  on  the  left  of  the  road,  also  in  rear  of  the 
battery,  in  which  position  the  troops  remained  until  eleven  o'clock 
A.  M.  The  36th  occupied  about  a  central  point  in  the  advance 
of  Gen.  Sheridan's  Division,  but  from  its  partially  concealed  posi 
tion  in  the  timber,  few  indications  of  a  hostile  force  in  the  oppo 
site  fields  and  woods  could  be  seen.  Thin  clouds  of  smoke  were 
observed  rising  lazily  above  the  tree-tops,  followed  by  a  shrieking 
shell  which  the  enemy  now  and  then  tossed  over  to  our  position, 
hoping,  perhaps,  to  dislodge  the  artillery  or  demoralize  the  infan 
try,  which  for  the  present  was  commanded  to  lay  down  and  do  noth 
ing.  No  advance  on  our  part  was  ordered,  none  on  the  part  of 
the  enemy  attempted ;  so  instead  of  exchanging  the  leaden  com 
pliments  of  war,  and  performing  feats  of  daring,  the  troops 
had  only  to  listen  to  the  shrieking  shell  and  whizzing  round  shot 
and  await  the  development  of  movements  in  other  portions  of 
the  field.  Scarcely  had  the  echoes  of  their  first  shot  ceased  to 


MC  COOK'S   ADVANCE.  251 

reverberate,  when  Barrett's  and  other  batteries  posted  to  the  right 
and  left,  commenced  a  heavy  cannonade,  sweeping  the  hills  with 
an  iron  torrent,  which  the  enemy  could  not  long  withstand. 

While  the  opposing  forces  are  thus  facing  each  other,  and  a 
desultory  firing  at  long  range  in  front  of  Sheridan's  Division  is 
going  on,  in  which  but  little  damage  to  either  side  is  being 
inflicted,  we  will  glance  at  other  portions  of  the  field  where  ground 
is  being  desperately  fought  over,  positions  lost  and  won,  and 
tragedies  enacted  that  appall  the  stoutest  heart.  The  corps 
of  Gen.  McCook  comprised  the  left  wing  of  the  army,  moved 
upon  other  but  parallel  roads  via  Mackville,  each  column  being 
within  call,  with  orders  to  support  each  other  in  case  of  neces 
sity.  Buell,  notwithstanding  his  vastly  superior  numbers,  still 
wished  to  avoid  a  battle.  From  the  determined  opposition  oifered 
to  Gilbert's  advance,  he  anticipated  some  resistance  at  this  stage 
of  the  march,  and  ordered  up  McCook's  corps  from  Mackville. 
This  order  was  received  after  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
8th.  Though  twelve  miles  distant,  with  characteristic  prompt 
ness  his  columns  were  in  motion  before  daylight  and  on  the  road 
to  Perryville.  All  the  morning  the  booming  of  cannon  in  front 
of  Gilbert,  reverberating  among  the  hills,  was  wafted  to  the  ears 
of  the  men  who  marched  to  its  rolling  cadences.  Though  suffer 
ing  for  the  want  of  water,  they  pressed  eagerly  forward,  over 
roads  rocky  and  rough  in  the  extreme,  the  advance  connecting 
with  Gilbert's  right  at  11  o'clock  A.  M. 

Taking  in  the  situation  at  a  glance,  and  knowing  that  from 
their  position  on  the  second  or  Chaplin's  Hills  the  enemy  com 
manded  the  approaches  to  the  creek  and  springs,  to  which  his 
thirsty  troops  alone  could  look  for  relief,  he  determined  to  carry 
the  position  and  gain  possession  of  the  springs.  The  appearance 
of  McCook  upon  the  field  was  evidently  a  surprise  to  the  enemy, 


252  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

who  were  maneuvering  to  gain  Gilbert's  left  and  assail  him  in 
flank.  To  frustrate  their  designs,  Me  Cook's  arrival  was  not  a 
moment  too  soon,  as  the  enemy's  skirmishers  were  already 
taking  possession  of  the  hills.  From  these  they  were  easily 
driven  back  upon  their  supports.  Pressing  forward  with  Lytel's 
Brigade,  and  assisted  by  the  36th  Brigade  of  Sheridan's  Divis 
ion,  under  Col.  Leibold,  a  sharp  contest  for  the  possession  of  the 
spring  ensued,  which  involved  the  forces  confronting  Sheridan, 
with  whom  Barrett's  guns  had  all  the  morning  been  exchanging 
the  compliments  of  the  season.  While  these  movements  were 
taking  place  on  the  left,  the  36th  lay  in  the  timber  listening  to 
the  report  of  cannon  fired  at  unfrequent  intervals,  which  to  them 
was  becoming  monotonous.  Aside  from  these  occasional  explo 
sions,  the  hills  and  woods,  to  all  outward  appearance,  slept 
peaceful  and  calm  in  the  summer  sunshine. 

But  what  mean  these  quick,  rushing  smoke-puffs  rising  above 
the  trees  away  to  the  left,  and  the  heavy  crash  of  artillery  fol 
lowing  them  ?  Quickly  from  the  heights  in  front  was  heard  an 
instantaneous  response  and  corresponding  smoke-puffs  from  Rebel 
batteries.  Then  the  sharp  rattle  of  musketry  added  its  shrill 
soprano  to  the  carnival  of  sound  that  rolled  down  from  the 
woody  slopes. 

Through  openings  in  the  timber  could  be  seen  our  skirmishers 
moving  slowly  forward  from  tree  to  tree,  and  from  position  to 
position  ;  now  halting  as  if  to  select  a  particular  object  at  which 
to  fire,  then  crouching  and  delivering  their  shots  as  deliberately 
as  if  at  target  practice.  They  gradually  pushed  up  the  hill  in 
the  face  of  a  withering  fire  towards  the  summit,  where  every 
rock,  tree  and  clump  of  bushes  concealed  a  Rebel  sharp-shooter. 
A  few  vards  in  the  rear  moved  the  long,  dark  line  of  reserves, 
upon  which  the  skirmishers  rallied  when  they  had  unmasked  the 


SUCCESSFUL   FIGHT   FOR    GOOD-NIGHT    SPRING.  253 

foe.  The  rattle  of  musketry  grew  louder  and  more  continuous. 
Barrett's  battery,  with  others  placed  at  intervals  along  the  line, 
a  mile  in  extent,  were  playing  vigorously  upon  the  enemy. 
Leibold's  Brigade,  the  gallant  2nd  Missouri,  in  the  lead,  in  con 
junction  with  McCook's  troops,  maintained  a  steady  line  of 
attack,  never  wavering  or  bending  beneath  the  storm  which 
assailed  them.  The  air  was  filled  with  shrieking  lead,  and  from 
our  position  could  be  faintly  heard  the  cheers  and  yells  of  the 
opposing  forces  and  the  continuous  roll  of  musketry.  For  half 
an  hour  the  strife  continued.  Little  by  little  the  Rebel  line 
wavered,  inch  by  inch  they  gave  ground,  and  then  broken  and 
discomfitted  they  retreated  in  disorder  from  the  heights  to  their 
reserves  at  Perry ville.  Thus  Chaplin's  Hills  were  won.  Good 
night  spring  was  ours,  and  great  draughts  of  its  refreshing 
waters  slaked  the  thirst  of  men,  who  for  two  days  had  toiled 
through  heat  and  dust,  suffering  intensely  for  the  want  of  water. 
In  this  fierce  encounter  which  gained  us  Chaplin's  Hills,  the  2nd 
Missouri  took  a  prominent  part,  and  had  twenty  killed  and  sixty 
wounded.  Their  ranks,  though  swept  with  sheets  of  fire,  which 
sent  many  a  hero  bleeding  to  the  ground,  charged  desperately 
upon  the  living  barrier  and  compelled  it  to  fall  back  before  their 
terrific  volleys,  leaving  many  dead  and  mangled  men  scattered 
over  the  hill-sides. 

The  enemy  having  been  driven  from  their  formidable  position 
in  Sheridan's  front,  matters  became  comparatively  quiet,  and  the 
36th  was  advanced  across  the  valley,  through  open  fields  and 
intervening  timber,  to  a  position  on  the  southern  slope  of  Chap 
lin's  Hills,  in  support  of  Hiscock's  Missouri  battery,  which  occu 
pied  the  summit  of  the  hill,  trying  occasionally  the  effect  of  a 
shot  at  long  range.  Away  to  the  left,  in  front  of  McCook,  the 
continual  roar  of  guns  announced  that  his  batteries  were  warmly 


254  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

engaged,  and  that  an  artillery  duel  of  formidable  proportions 
was  raging  between  the  opposing  forces.  In  front,  and  a  mile 
or  more  away,  lay  Hardee's  corps  in  the  valley  of  Chaplin's 
creek,  concealed  from  view  by  the  intervening  bluffs  and  fringes  of 
timber  and  bushes,  which  in  isolated  patches  dotted  the  slopes. 
The  36th  descended  the  southern  incline  to  a  cornfield  a  few 
hundred  yards  below,  and  in  front  of  the  batteries  stationed  on 
the  crest  of  the  ridge,  and  halting,  stood  at  ease  in  line  of  battle, 
gazing  over  the  undulating  fields  and  valleys  a  mile  away,  where 
hid  from  sight  lay  dense  masses  of  Hardee's  Infantry  and  Artil 
lery,  with  only  a  thin  line  of  skirmishers  in  view  to  break  the 
monotony  and  disturb  the  prevailing  quiet.  Soon  after  the  bal 
ance  of  the  brigade  came  forward,  followed  by  the  whole  army 
corps.  By  noon  the  Federal  line  of  battle  extended  along  the 
crest  of  the  hills  for  a  mile  and  a-half,  the  Divisions  of  Mitchell, 
Sheridan  and  Schoeff,  of  Gilbert's  corps,  forming  the  right,  while 
Rousseau's  and  Jackson's  Divisions,  of  McCook's  corps,  occu 
pied  the  left,  the  latter  confronted  by  Folk's  and  the  former  by 
Hardee's  veterans  of  the  Confederate  army. 

The  37th  (Greusel's)  Brigade  occupied  a  central  position  in 
Sheridan's  Division,  and  was  formed  in  the  following  order. 
Barrett's  battery  was  stationed  on  the  crest  of  the  ridge  to  the 
right  of  the  Springfield  road,  supported  by  the  21st  Michigan 
Volunteers,  a  few  yards  in  rear  of  the  guns,  just  over  the  brow 
of  the  hill  which  interposed  a  barrier  against  random  shot  that 
struck  the  ground  in  front,  and  rebounding  over  the  heads  of 
the  troops,  terminated  their  career  a  hundred  yards  to  the  rear. 
The  24th  Wisconsin  Volunteers  was  stationed  to  the  left  of  the 
road,  also  protected  by  the  summit  of  the  ridge,  while  a  section 
of  Hiscock's  battery  operated  in  its  front.  The  36th  Illinois  was 
withdrawn  from  the  cornfield  to  the  timber  immediately  in  front 


ATTACK   ON   MC  COOK*S   CORPS.  255 

of  Barrett's  battery,  on  the  exposed  side  of  the  hills,  the  cannon 
being  fired  over  the  heads  of  the  regiment  throughout  the  ensu 
ing  engagement.  The  88th  Illinois  Volunteers  was  posted  to 
the  right  of  the  batteries,  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  being  more  or 
less  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire,  and  participated  in  the  engage 
ment  from  the  beginning. 

While  this  disposition  of  the  Federal  forces  was  being  made, 
Bragg  advanced  his  right  against  McCook,  and  a  furious  engage 
ment  at  once  commenced.  His  artillery  placed  in  favorable 
positions  on  commanding  elevations  near  the  creek,  poured  a 
pitiless  storm  of  shot  into  the  Federal  ranks,  which  stood  unpro 
tected  upon  the  open  plain.  This  sudden  outburst  of  Rebel 
wrath  was  the  sure  precursor  of  an  infantry  charge,  and  the  few 
minutes  that  intervened  before  the  appearance  of  the  hostile 
forces  were  spent  in  busy  preparation  for  their  reception. 
Scarcely  had  the  echo  of  the  first  gun  ceased  to  reverberate, 
when  McCook's  batteries  commenced  a  heavy  cannonade,  sweep 
ing  the  fields  and  broken  plateau  with  a  storm  of  iron  that  none 
but  stout  hearted  and  hard  nerved  men  could  stem.  A  little 
after  noon  the  Divisions  of  Cheatham,  Buckner  and  Anderson 
emerged  from  the  valley  of  Chaplin's  creek,  but  so  furious  the 
fire  that  greeted  them  that  they  were  obliged  to  advance  under 
cover  of  sheltering  ravines,  and  deploying  upon  the  plain, 
charged  with  great  impetuosity  upon  Terrell's  Brigade  of  raw 
troops,  which  by  a  misunderstanding  of  orders  had  been  pushed 
to  an  exposed  position  in  front,  without  adequate  supports.  They 
were  the  first  to  encounter  the  charging  divisions,  and  for  a  little 
while  bravely  withstood  the  shock  of  battle.  But  volley  after 
volley  of  musketry  was  launched  with  merciless  fury  into  their 
devoted  ranks.  Thin  grew  their  line.  Men  were  shot  down  by 
scores.  What  could  they  do  but  bend  beneath  the  shock.  Gen. 


256  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Jackson,  their  Division  Commander,  in  trying  to  rally  them,  was 
struck  in  the  breast  by  a  fragment  of  an  exploded  shell,  and 
with  the  exclamation,  "  Oh,  God  !"  fell  from  his  horse  a  mangled 
corpse.  Terrell  also  was  struck  down  while  endeavoring  to 
encourage  the  men,  and  the  brigade  began  to  melt  away,  its 
broken  remains  flying  to  the  rear.  The  horses  attached  to  Par 
son's  battery  were  all  shot  down,  most  of  the  gunners  either 
wounded  or  slain.  The  survivors  vainly  attempted  to  drag  their 
pieces  back  by  hand  to  save  them  from  capture,  but  every  effort 
was  baffled  by  the  uninterrupted  fire  which  decimated  their  num 
bers,  and  they  were  forced  to  leave  the  guns  in  the  possession  of 
the  yelling  and  now  triumphant  enemy. 

Starkweather's  Brigade  of  war-worn  experienced  veterans, 
who  had  marched  and  fought  under  0.  M.  Mitchell,  in  his 
meteor-like  movements  from  the  Ohio  to  Nashville  and  into  Ala 
bama,  was  the  next  to  feel  the  weight  of  the  attack.  It  was 
posted  at  the  extreme  left  of  Rousseau's  Division,  and  in  reserve 
behind  Terrell.  The  safety  of  the  trains  and  the  whole  division 
depended  upon  their  steadfastness  and  ability  to  hold  their  posi 
tion.  On  swept  the  enemy  over  the  field  they  had  just  won, 
scattering  the  fragments  of  Terrell's  recruits  like  snowflakes 
before  the  wind,  crushing  the  dead  and  wounded  beneath  their 
horses'  hoofs  and  cannon  wheels,  and  with  terrific  yells  rushing 
into  the  deadly  embrace  of  Starkweather's  veterans,  who  firmly 
stood  and  held  their  position.  From  their  well  dressed  lines 
rang  out  the  sharp  crash  of  musketry,  before  which  many  in  the 
front  rank  of  their  assailants  went  down.  Fresh  troops  step  up 
and  close  the  gaps,  and  in  solid  masses  once  more  advance  to 
again  be  mowed  down  by  a  whirlwind  of  fire.  The  survivors 
paused  not  for  an  instant,  but  rushed  forward  to  within  a  few 
yards  of  the  Federal  line,  and  then  halting,  delivered  a  close  fire 


A   TERRIBLE   COKFLICT.  257 

that  sent  many  a  patriot  reeling  to  the  ground,  baptizing  the 
soil  of  Kentucky  with  their  generous  blood.  Here  and  there  a 
wounded  hero  dropped  his  musket  from  a  nerveless  grasp,  and 
pale  and  bleeding  limped  back  to  the  rear.  The  brigade  wavered 
a  little,  but  McCook  was  there  watching  the  progress  of  the 
fight,  cheering  and  encouraging  the  men.  Pride  and  discipline 
at  length  asserted  its  sway  over  the  troops,  every  man  moved 
forward  to  his  former  position  and  inflexibly  held  the  line.  No 
reserves  were  near,  and  it  was  important  the  left  must  be  pre 
served  at  all  hazards,  lest  the  enemy  breaking  through  should 
capture  the  trains  and  doubling  on  the  rear  create  a  panic  and 
put  the  whole  army  to  rout.  For  half  an  hour  wave  after  wave 
of  Southern  valor  dashed  against  Starkweather's  Brigade,  to  be 
again  and  again  hurled  back,  their  ranks  bleeding  and  discom- 
fitted,  followed  by  wild,  irregular  cheers.  Under  such  circum 
stances  it  does  men  good  to  shout.  It  infuses  a  sort  of  inspira 
tion,  tones  up  their  waning  courage,  and  is  equal  in  value  and 
practical  results  to  a  reinforcement  of  fresh  men. 

Each  repulse  of  Cheatham's  batallions  was  followed  by  a  lull, 
a  mere  scattering  fire  of  musketry;  and  there  were  moments 
when  not  a  shot  was  exchanged.  Then  would  be  heard  that 
Rebel  yell,  sending  a  thrill  to  the  stoutest  heart,  and  the  storm 
would  burst  forth  afresh,  the  enemy  charging  desperately  towards 
our  line,  and  hurling  themselves  upon  this  living  barrier  in  vain. 
Gen.  McCook  becoming  assured  that  the  left  was  placed  in  charge 
of  safe  hands,  proceeded  to  the  right,  where  the  roar  of  guns 
told  him  a  conflict  of  equal  magnitude  was  going  on. 

Cheatham's  charge  upon  the  left,  so  disastrous  to  Terrell  and 
taxing  to  its  utmost  the  courage  of  Starkweather's  veterans,  was 
followed  by  Buckner  and  Anderson,  who  joined  their  divisions 
to  Cheatham's  left,  and  at  once  the  battle  raged  along  the  whole 


258  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

of  Rousseau's  line.  Three  divisions  were  thus  launched  upon 
three  brigades,  a  disparity  in  numbers  too  great  to  be  success 
fully  withstood  without  the  aid  of  parapets  or  natural  advantages 
of  position  as  a  protection  against  the  effect  of  shot  and  shell. 
For  a  while  Rousseau's  gallant  squadrons  held  their  own,  return 
ing  blow  for  blow,  and  giving  as  good  as  was  sent.  The  wide 
openings  which  rent  their  ranks  were  closed  again,  and  bravely 
they  responded,  hurling  grape,  cannister  and  musket  balls  upon 
the  advancing  foe,  who  outnumbered  them  three  to  one.  A  half 
hour's  exposure  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile  of  sheeted  musketry, 
and  the  enfilading  fire  from  a  score  of  Rebel  batteries,  was  suffi 
cient  to  sweep  every  man  from  existence.  Against  numbers  so 
overwhelming  they  could  not  stand,  and  accordingly  fell  back  to 
the  protecting  summits  of  the  ridge.  The  retreat  was  inevita 
ble.  It  was  not  a  disorderly  rout,  but  with  ranks  unbroken  they 
fell  back  in  good  order,  occasionally  halting  and  defiantly  hurling 
rounds  of  grape  into  the  face  of  the  thronging  enemy,  and  bring 
ing  their  guns  and  colors  safely  from  the  field. 

McCook  met  Rousseau's  shattered  columns  slowly  giving 
ground,  and  ordered  up  all  his  reserves,  including  Webster's  and 
Hall's  Brigades  of  Jackson's  Division,  and  sought  to  hold  the 
enemy  in  check  until  reinforcements  could  be  brought  over  from 
Gilbert's  corps,  which  up  to  this  time  had  been  but  slightly 
engaged.  Hour  after  hour  with  varying  fortunes  the  conflict 
raged.  Lytle,  who  had  the  extreme  right  of  the  division,  was 
struck  down  and  carried  bleeding  to  the  rear.  Webster,  in  his 
efforts  to  maintain  his  line,  was  killed.  The  carnage  on  both 
sides  was  frightful.  Here,  there  and  all  around  the  mutilated 
remains  of  heroic  men  were  scattered  over  the  field,  their  life- 
blood  crimsoning  the  earth.  The  15th  Kentucky  Volunteers, 
assailed  by  a  largely  superior  force  in  front  and  enfiladed  on 


BEAVERY   OP   AN    OHIO    REGIMENT.  259 

either  flank  by  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery,  in  five  minutes  was 
nearly  annihilated,  and  few  survivors  were  left  to  tell  the  story 
of  their  discomfiture.  An  Ohio  regiment,  while  firmly  holding 
an  advanced  position,  found  themselves  surrounded,  the  enemy 
lapping  around  their  flanks  and  nearly  enclosing  them  within 
their  fatal  folds.  But  brave  and  fearless  officers  were  at  the  head 
of  equally  brave  and  fearless  men,  and  with  the  fury  of  tigers 
they  dashed  upon  the  enclosing  circle,  cutting  a  broad  road 
through,  and  rejoining  their  comrades,  who  were  maintaining  a 
desperate  resistance  on  another  portion  of  the  field. 

While  the  contest  was  thus  fiercely  raging  on  the  left,  the 
right  wing  had  not  remained  idle  and  disinterested  spectators  of 
the  rapid  succession  of  events  and  turmoil  of  battle  transpiring 
around  them.  The  position  of  Sheridan's  Division,  and  more 
particularly  of  the  37th  Brigade,  has  already  been  alluded  to. 
On  the  left  the  battle  had  been  in  progress  an  hour  and  a-half 
before  demonstrations  were  made  upon  the  right.  The  position 
occupied  by  Barrett's  and  Hiscock's  batteries  commanded  an 
extensive  view,  and  from  it  the  panorama  of  war  could  be  seen 
in  all  its  awful  grandeur.  When  Rousseau's  line  was  broken, 
and  the  enemy's  hosts  were  surging  over  the  field,  their  advance 
line  fringed  with  fire,  every  glass  was  directed  thitherward,  and 
when  our  lines  went  down  before  the  irresi stable  charge,  many  a 
prayer  went  up  to  heaven,  uGod  help  our  poor  boys  now!" 
The  enemy  was  observed  massing  his  forces  behind  the  narrow 
belt  of  timber  fringing  a  dry  branch  running  into  Chaplin's 
creek,  and  sick  at  heart  we  beheld  the  attacking  line  firmly 
advancing  across  the  fields  to  complete  the  rout  their  death-deal 
ing  batteries  had  commenced. 

Turning  to  the  commander  of  a  battery  Col.  Greusel  exclaimed, 
"  Captain  Hiscock,  those  fellows  over  yonder  are  using  McCook's 


260  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

boys  rather  roughly.  Can't  you  reach  them  with  your  shot  ?" 
"  I'll  try,  Colonel,"  was  the  laconic  reply,  and  elevating  his 
guns,  shot  after  shot  enfiladed  their  line ;  shells  bursting  in  the 
midst  of  crowded  ranks  caused  great  rents  which  were  promptly 
closed,  and  the  solid  lines  with  flaunting  banners  pressed  for 
ward  to  the  charge,  scarcely  deigning  to  notice  the  shot  dropping 
upon  the  heads  of  the  advancing  infantry.  The  gunners 
redoubled  their  efforts,  and  blazing  shell  were  launched  in  the 
thronging  Rebel  masses.  How  eagerly  we  watched  the  effect  of 
shot  hurled  seemingly  in  the  center  of  their  squares ;  and  when 
the  dust  was  seen  to  fly,  and  men  scattering  in  every  direction, 
loud  shouts  broke  from  our  ranks,  and  men  grew  hoarse  with 
cheering.  So  deadly  was  Hiscock's  fire,  that  the  Rebel  lines 
were  seen  to  waver,  pause,  and  then  halt,  appalled  at  the  destruc 
tion  which  from  an  unlocked  for  quarter  was  smiting  them  to 
the  earth.  Little  squads  started  off  to  the  rear,  followed  by 
whole  batallions,  seemingly  excited  and  panic  stricken.  Officers 
were  seen  running  hither  and  thither,  waving  their  swords,  ges 
ticulating  and  undoubtedly  threatening  their  men  with  due  pun 
ishment  for  this  exhibition  of  cowardice.  In  a  little  time  the 
panic  seemed  to  subside ;  their  ranks  were  reformed  ;  their  ban 
ners  carried  well  in  front  were  seen  fluttering  in  the  wind. 
Again  their  batteries  vomited  sheets  of  flame,  and  their  infantry 
rushed  desperately  forward  in  the  face  of  a  murderous  fire  from 
musketry  in  front  and  cannon  in  flank. 

Hiscock's  guns  were  worked  to  their  utmost  capacity.  Solid 
shot  and  shell  were  sent  crashing  into  their  ranks,  rending  them 
asunder,  and  finally  sending  their  broken  cohorts  in  terror  to  the 
rear,  under  cover  of  the  hills  and  timber  bordering  the  stream. 
Thrice  they  attempted  to  cross  this  artillery  swept  field,  only  to 
be  hurled  back  again  with  diminished  numbers.  Thus  the  oppor- 


SAVING    MC  COOK'S    CORPS.  261 

tunity  for  crushing  Rousseau  before  reinforcements  could  arrive 
was  lost.  McCook's  corps,  though  crippled,  was  saved,  but  at 
what  a  cost !  His  command,  which  in  the  morning  numbered 
thirteen  thousand,  was  now  reduced  to  seven  or  eight  thousand 
men  capable  of  fighting.  The  victory  which  for  a  while  trem 
bled  in  the  balance  and  then  inclined  to  the  national  side,  was 
largely  due  to  the  fatal  precision  and  coolly  delivered  fire  of 
Hiscock's  guns.  It  was  subsequently  ascertained  from  surgeons 
left  in  charge  that  the  loss  of  the  enemy  from  this  battery  alone 
amounted  to  four  hundred  and  thirty  killed  and  wounded. 

After  the  enemy  had  been  driven  from  their  position  in  front 
of  Sheridan,  and  had  fallen  back  to  their  reserves,  the  troops 
occupying  the  hills  remained  comparatively  quiet  and  unmolested. 
Occasionally  a  solitary  picket  standing  statue-like  in  sharp  relief 
against  the  opposite  horizon,  or  a  single  horseman  would  be  seen 
on  the  summit,  apparently  reconnoitering  the  Federal  position. 
The  flight  of  a  shell  in  that  direction  would  terminate  the  recon- 
noissance  and  send  him  to  cover  behind  the  bluffs,  where  their 
reserves  in  great  numbers  appeared  to  be  massed.  The  flutter 
of  a  flag  or  guidon  just  over  the  crest  indicated  where  their 
forces  lay,  and  at  intervals  a  shot  would  be  sent  to  the  position 
supposed  to  be  occupied  by  them,  but  elicited  no  reply. 

About  one  o'clock  p.  M.,  while  the  contest  on  the  left  was 
raging,  an  unusual  bustle  was  observed  on  the  opposite  elevation 
by  a  batallion  or  two  of  Confederates,  who  made  their  appear 
ance  near  a  clump  of  timber.  But  little  time  was  given  for  con 
jecture  as  to  the  cause  for  this  sudden  spasm  of  activity  in  that 
•  single  isolated  spot,  for  a  sudden  puff  of  smoke  rising  from 
among  the  trees,  followed  by  a  muffled  roar  and  the  shriek  of  a 
projectile  full  well  explained  its  meaning.  Under  cover  of  pro 
tecting  trees  and  foliage  they  had  succeeded  in  planting  a  battery 


262  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and  began  to  throw  shot  among  us  too  lively  for  enjoyment. 
Their  guns  were  admirably  handled,  and  their  aim  was  quite  as 
accurate  as  was  deemed  desirable.  Sometimes  a  shot  would  come 
shrieking  over  our  heads  and  fall  among  the  batallions  in  the 
rear.  Others  would  strike  a  few  yards  in  front,  and  rebounding 
over  those  in  the  advance,  drop  very  uricourteouslv  and  unan 
nounced  among  groups  of  men  standing  at  their  ease,  causing  a 
sudden  jumping,  more  sprightly  than  graceful.  No  one  was 
injured,  or  other  effect  produced  than  raising  clouds  of  dust  and 
badly  scaring  some  who  for  the  first  time  were  under  fire. 

It  was  said  that  one  shot  entered  a  soldier's  knapsack  and 
scattered  its  contents  over  the  ground ;  among  other  things  a 
pack  of  cards,  dealing  them  more  expeditiously  than  by  any  of 
the  methods  laid  down  by  Hoyle.  Another  severed  the  belt  by 
which  Pus  Kendall's  haversack  was  suspended,  cutting  it  as 
smoothly  as  though  done  with  a  knife.  The  haversack  and  its 
contents  dropped  to  the  ground,  and  Kendall,  who,  in  addition 
to  other  peculiarities  was  something  of  a  wag,  started  in  haste 
to  the  rear.  Col.  Greusel  ordered  him  to  halt,  and  demanded 
the  reason  for  such  cowardly  conduct.  Pus,  holding  up  the 
mutilated  remains  of  his  belt,  exclaimed,  "  Colonel,  they've  cut 
off  my  supplies,  and  how  in  h — 1  do  you  expect  a  man  can  fight 
when  his  supplies  are  gone  ?"  Kendall's  excuse  for  falling  back 
was  more  ludicrous  than  efficacious,  and  he  was  sent  to  the  com 
mand,  taking  his  place  in  the  ranks  and  fighting  bravely  during 
the  remainder  of  the  action. 

This  rapid  and  annoying  fire  was  supposed  to  be  introductory 
to  an  assault  by  the  enemy  in  force,  and  all  were  on  the  alert 
and  in  a  state  of  expectancy.  Hiscock's  guns  were  diverted 
from  the  left  for  the  purpose  of  rebuking  the  insolence  of  this 
battery  in  front.  The  gunners,  after  sighting  their  pieces,  flung 


DESTRUCTION    OF    A    REBEL    BATTERY.  2fi3 

back  an  answering  shower  of  balls,  and  at  about  the  third  round 
had  got  the  range  so  accurate  that  a  shell  was  exploded  in  the 
midst  of  the  battery.  A  gun  was  dismounted,  its  carriage 
knocked  into  splinters,  and  men  were  blown  into  the  air.  The 
remaining  fragments  were  taken  to  the  rear,  followed  by  a  part 
ing  benediction  from  Hiscock's  "  Rodmans."  In  less  than  five 
minutes  from  our  first  shot  that  battery  was  knocked  to  pieces 
and  completely  silenced,  their  gunners  and  supports  scattering 
like  sheep  and  flying  for  cover  behind  the  sheltering  bluffs,  while 
cheer  upon  cheer  followed  them  in  their  retreat. 

After  the  affair  with  the  battery  had  terminated,  the  -36th 
regiment  rested  quietly  upon  its  arms.  Only  the  artillery  kept 
up  ja  noisy  promiscuous  fire  upon  such  squadrons  as  could  be 
seen,  dealing  out  blows  here  and  there  wherever  there  was  a 
Rebel  head  to  hit.  The  troops  lay  down,  some  even  went  to 
sleep,  notwithstanding  the  thunder  of  cannon  resounded  in  their 
ears.  Half  an  hour,  perhaps,  passed,  when  the  timber  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  to  the  right  front  of  our  position  was  observed 
to  be  densely  crowded  with  Confederate  troops.  On  the  right, 
and  extending  across  our  front,  batteries  were  seen  lining  the 
ridges  with  bodies  of  supporting  troops  behind  them,  and  while 
the  infantry  was  forming  in  the  timber,  their  batteries  deluged 
our  exposed  position  on  the  slopes  of  the  hills  with  shot  and 
shell.  Our  cannon  were  not  silent,  and  answering  missiles  were 
belched  from  the  black  throats  of  Barrett's  and  Hiscock's  guns, 
the  hurly-burly  of  artillery  drowning  the  din  of  battle  on  other 
portions  of  the  field.  Above  the  roar  of  artillery  the  Rebel  yell 
was  heard,  and  their  dense  columns  were  observed  pouring  out 
of  the  timber,  moving  obliquely  down  the  hill  and  across  the 
fields  in  the  direction  of  the  36th.  Then  came  the  order,  "Fall 
in  men,"  and  instantly  each  soldier  sprang  to  his  feet,  took  his 


264  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

musket  and  assumed  his  position  in  the  line.  Officers  worn  out 
with  watching  and  fatigue,  aroused  themselves  and  were  soon  in 
their  proper  places.  Tired  limbs  lost  their  stiffness,  and  tKe 
certainty  of  a  hand  to  hand  encounter  with  Hardee's  pet  soldiers 
infused  a  new  and  wonderful  inspiration.  Confident  of  victory, 
all  were  overflowing  with  enthusiasm,  and  stood  quietly  yet  firmly 
in  the  position  assigned  them. 

On  came  the  Confederate  column  across  the  intervening  fields 
and  up  the  ascent  on  which  our  line  of  battle  was  formed, 
directly  into  the  fatal  embrace  of  the  36th,  who,  fresh  and 
expectant,  were  awaiting  their  coming  and  eager  for  the  fray. 
They  advanced  most  gallantly,  marching  in  splendid  order,  not 
a  man  wavering  or  falling  out  of  line.  Six  battle  flags  proudly 
waving  indicated  the  number  of  regiments  composing  the  attack 
ing  column,  numbering  at  least  three  thousand  men,  the  flower 
of  Hardee's  corps,  under  the  direction  of  General  Cleburne,  who, 
it  was  understood,  commanded  in  person.  On  the  brow  of  the 
the  hill  beyond  were  twice  that  number  of  men  with  several 
batteries  to  support  the  attack,  which  played  with  considerable 
effect  upon  our  exposed  line.  Our  batteries  responded,  filling 
the  air  with  missiles  and  opening  upon  the  Rebel  column  with 
solid  shot  and  shell,  which  marked  their  course  with  long  lanes 
of  fallen  men,  and  tearing  great  rents  in  their  lines  which  were 
instantly  closed  up,  the  column  sweeping  steadily  onward. 
Their  line  of  march  could  be  traced  by  the  dead  and  wounded 
thickly  scattered  along  the  way,  laying  where  they  had  fallen 
and  weltering  in  their  blood.  Coming  within  musket  range  they 
deployed  in  line  and  swept  across  the  cornfield  towards  the  36th, 
yelling  like  fiends  broke  loose  from  pandemonium.  Never  did 
troops  display  more  courage  and  determination  than  Hardee's 
veterans  in  this  assault.  For  three-fourths  of  a  mile  they  faced 


THE    36TH    UNDER    A    TERRIBLE    FIRE.  265 

the  deadly  fire  of  artillery  without  faltering,  and  forming  their 
line  under  fire,  prepared  to  sweep  the  36th  out  of  existence  and 
capture  the  batteries  in  their  rear. 

Not  an  officer  or  man  of  the  36th  quailed,  and  when  the  gal 
lant  Miller,  who  was  in  command,  gave  the  order  to  fire,  with 
the  coolness  of  experienced  marksmen  they  assailed  the  Rebel 
lines  with  such  an  incessant  storm  of  lead  that  for  a  moment 
they  faltered.  Their  officers  dashed  furiously  along  the  line, 
alternately  cheering,  threatening  and  encouraging  the  troops 
when  their  line  was  again  reformed,  and  pushed  forward  under  a 
fire  so  terrible  that  the  cornfield  was  literally  sprinkled  with  their 
fallen.  At  last  they  reached  the  fence  but  a  few  yards  below 
the  position  of  the  36th,  which  furnished  a  slight  protection 
against  the  fire  of  musketry.  The  opposing  forces  were  now 
within  easy  range.  The  rattle  of  musketry  mingling  with  the 
roar  of  artillery,  the  shouts  of  soldiers,  the  scream  of  shells,  the 
crash  of  small  arms,  the  hissing  sound  of  grape  and  canister, 
the  cries  of  the  wounded  and  the  yell  of  combatants,  filled  the 
air  with  a  medley  of  sounds  better  imagined  than  described. 
Each  soldier  loaded  and  fired  at  will  as  rapidly  as  possible,  the 
sound  of  each  discharge  mingling  with  others,  and  the  whole 
merging  in  one  grand  volume,  added  to  which  the  sulphurous 
voices  of  heavy  ordnance  combined  to  swell  the  terrific  chorus, 
which  reverberating  among  the  hills  caused  them  to  tremble  as  if 
shaken  by  the  wrath  of  God. 

Twenty,  thirty  and  forty  rounds  per  man  were  fired,  and  still 
the  enemy  clung  to  the  fence  with  the  greatest  tenacity,  selecting 
their  living  targets,  taking  deliberate  aim,  and  firing  with  fatal 
effect  upon  our  exposed  line,  wafting  many  a  heroic  soul  on  the 
red  wings  of  battle  back  to  the  God  that  gave  them,  while 
wounded  soldiers  limped  painfully  to  the  rear ;  others,  supported 

18 


266  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

upon  the  arms  of  comrades,  were  conveyed  to  the  hospitals,  where 
Surgeons  Young  and  Pierce  were  kept  busy  in   the  performance  ' 
of  their  humane  but  unwelcome  duty  of  caring  for  the  maimed. 

The  battle-field  by  this  time  was  enveloped  in  a  smoky  veil, 
beneath  which  brothers  and  comrades,  loyal  and  true,  were  fight 
ing  for  the  cause  of  country  and  right,  grappling  with  a  desper 
ate  and  numerically  superior  foe.  Fifty  rounds  were  fired,  and 
the  muskets  becoming  heated  and  foul  it  was  with  the  utmost 
difficulty  the  cartridges  were  forced  down  the  gun-barrels.  Offi 
cers  passed  along  the  line  and  assisted  in  ramming  the  cartridges 
home.  But  ammunition  was  getting  scarce,  many  of  the  cart 
ridge  boxes  were  empty,  and  Adjutant  Biddulph  was  sent  flying 
over  the  hills  to  obtain  a  fresh  supply.  The  ordnance  train  hav 
ing  been  moved  was  not  readily  found,  and  when  discovered,  the 
teamster  had  not  the  nerve  to  proceed  with  his  wagon  into 
the  volcano  of  fire  raging  in  front,  until  the  flourish  of  a  sword 
and  click  of  a  revolver  infused  some  little  courage  into  the  mule- 
whacker,  and  he  drove  where  the  Adjutant  directed.  Meanwhile 
the  last  cartridge  was  fired,  and  with  fixed  bayonets  the  regiment 
prepared  to  rush  down  upon  that  vortex  of  flame  and  trust  to 
cold  steel  to  clear  the  fence,  for  without  ammunition  nothing  but 
a  desperate  bayonet  charge  could  save  them.  Then  came  the 
order  to  fall  back,  which  was  executed  without  undue  haste,  the 
troops  preserving  their  alignement,  ever  and  anon  turning  to 
the  fence  which  this  day  had  been  their  worst  enemy. 

The  88th  Illinois  and  the  24th  Wisconsin  regiments  relieved 
the  36th,  and  as  the  latter  retired,  the  former  moved  down 
the  hill  to  the  position  just  vacated.  During  the  progress  of 
the  conflict  which  the  36th  for  three-quarters  of  an  hour  suc 
cessfully  maintained,  the  88th  was  posted  on  higher  ground  a 
hundred  yards  to  the  right  and  rear,  covering  its  three  right 


A    CRITICAL    MOMENT.  267 

companies  and  putting  in  an  occasional  shot  as  opportunity 
offered.  In  retiring,  it  was  necessary  to  pass  through  the  88th 
as  well  as  the  batteries  situated  on  the  hills.  The  88th  was  a 
new  regiment  and  under  fire  for  the  first  time.  The  retrograde 
movement  of  the  36th  through  their  lines  was  construed  by  some 
into  a  retreat,  and  created  a  ripple  of  excitement  nearly  approach 
ing  a  panic.  A  half  dozen  or  more  files  broke  for  the  rear ; 
a  low  murmur  of  disappointment  which  every  instant  grew  louder, 
ran  along  the  lines  of  perhaps  two  or  three  companies,  and  the 
men  wavered  as  if  on  the  point  of  flying.  Another  minute,  and 
undoubtedly  the  whole  regiment  would  have  been  upon  the  wing, 
for  there  is  nothing  on  a  field  of  battle  so  contagious  as  a  panic. 
Observing  this,  Col.  Sherman  and  the  regimental  field  officers 
were  instantly  at  the  spot  exerting  their  influence  as  well  as 
authority.  The  regiment  was  retired  a  few  yards  over  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  and  by  threats  and  example  the  officers  succeeded  in 
restoring  order.  The  ranks  were  reformed,  the  men  were  them 
selves  again,  and  advanced  without  flinching  to  the  position 
assigned  them.  During  the  remainder  of  the  day,  no  signs  of 
disorder  was  manifested,  but  they  fought  like  tigers  until  the 
battle  ended. 

Adjutant  Biddulph  met  the  regiment  with  a  supply  of  ammu 
nition,  and  empty  cartridge  boxes  were  replenished,  after  which 
a  new  line  was  formed  in  a  cornfield  to  the  left  of  the  batteries 
and  east  of  the  Perry ville  road,  where,  sheltered  behind  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  they  were  not  again  molested  except  by  stray  shot 
which  occasionally  ricocheted  over  the  hill  in  the  direction  where 
the  regiment  was  laying  on  its  arms. 

The  conflict  still  raged  in  front,  though  not  with  that  persist 
ent  obstinacy  which  characterized  the  earlier  efforts  of  the  enemy 
to  storm  the  heights.  The  88th,  after  order  had  been  restored, 


268  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

moved  into  the  position  vacated  by  the  36th,  in  the  face  of  a 
galling  fire,  and  in  descending  the  hill  some  of  its  best  and 
bravest  men  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  Gallantly  the  Con 
federates  fought  to  'maintain  their  position,  tying  a  flagstaff  to 
the  fence  and  flaunting  their  colors  defiantly  in  our  faces  with  the 
determination  to  stand  by  them  to  the  last.  [By  this  time  their 
ammunition  began  to  fail.  Their  ranks  were  fearfully  thinned 
by  the  cannonade  from  twelve  well  served  guns,  kept  up  for  an 
hour  and  a-half  without  a  moment's  intermission,  which,  together 
with  the  deadly  musketry  fire  poured  upon  them  by  the  88th, 
caused  portions  of  their  line  to  give  way.  By  the  exertion  of 
their  officers  they  rallied,  but  were  again  repulsed,  while  volley 
after  volley  and  cheer  after  cheer  hastened  their  retreat.  A  few 
regiments  to  the  left  of  their  line  remained  firm,  but  their  fire 
almost  ceased  and  the  engagement  assumed  more  the  character 
of  a  massacre  than  a  sharply  contested  battle  where  blows  were 
given  as  well  as  received.  At  length  the  remnant  of  that  once 
defiant  brigade,  that  marched  with  streaming  banners,  proud  and 
confident,  across  that  valley  of  death,  with  shattered  ranks  fled 
precipitately  from  the  field.  With  their  retreat,  the  fighting  in 
front  of  Sheridan  ended  for  the  day. 

A  demonstration  was  however  made  upon  our  left,  arid  for  a 
time  it  looked  as  if  the  sanguinary  scenes  we  had  just  passed 
through  would  be  enacted  over  again.  The  21st  Michigan  and 
36th  Illinois  were  ordered  into  line  in  rear  of  and  supporting  Bar 
rett's  battery,  which  opened  with  telling  effect  upon  the  advanc 
ing  batallions,  checking,  and  finally  driving  them  gradually  to 
the  cover  they  had  left. 

Behind  the  fence  and  in  the  edge  of  the  cornfield,  where  the 
enemy  had  so  long  and  gallantly  contended,  their  dead  and 
wounded  lay  in  swaths.  All  through  the  field  bodies  attired 


COMPANY    B    CAVALRY,    LEADING   THE   ADVANCE.  269 

in  Confederate  gray  were  scattered  among  the  long  aisles  of  corn. 
No  matter  in  what  direction  one  walked,  the  shocking  picture 
of  death  in  its  most  revolting  form  was  presented,  touching 
the  heart,  awakening  pity,  filling  the  soul  with  horror  and  the 
eyes  with  tears. 

The  Division  of  R.  B.  Mitchell,  on  Gilbert's  extreme  right 
shared  in  the  tragedies  as  well  as  the  glories  of  the  day.  The  38th 
Brigade,  under  Col.  Carlin,  formed  the  left  of  the  division,  and 
save  a  few  random  shots  from  the  batteries  shelling  the  woods  and 
ravines  in  front,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  position  of 
any  enemy  that  might  be  stationed  behind  them,  nothing  of 
moment  occurred  until  2  o'clock  P.  M.  The  attack  upon  Sheri 
dan  had  commenced  when  the  brigade  arrived  on  the  ground  and 
formed  on  his  right  for  the  purpose  of  repelling  any  attempt  to 
turn  his  flank.  Company  B,  of  the  36th  Cavalry,  under  the 
gallant  Capt.  Sherer,  led  the  advance.  The  Captain,  with  a 
detachment  of  six  men,  was  directed  to  proceed  to  an  elevation  a 
half  mile  in  front  to  reconnoitre,  and  report  as  to  the  practica 
bility  of  occupying  the  position  and  planting  a  battery  there. 
While  executing  this^order,  his  party  was  fired  upon  from  the 
timber  where  large  bodies  of  the  enemy  were  massed  to  support 
the  attack  then  being  made  upon  Greusel's  Brigade.  None  of 
the  men  were  hit,  and  returning,  the  Captain  reported  the  pres 
ence  and  position  of  the  enemy,  when  the  brigade  was  formed 
and  advanced  in  line  of  battle.  Almost  immediately  it  was 
enfiladed  by  a  Rebel  battery  stationed  on  a  commanding  elevation 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  away.  Rebel  thunderbolts  filled  the  air 
and  went  screaming  over  the  heads  of  the  troops,  or  bursting  in 
close  proximity  plowed  up  the  ground,  scattering  dust  and  gravel 
quite  freely  in  the  faces  of  the  men.  Soon  becoming  accustomed 
to  artillery  at  long  range,  the  men  were  quite  indifferent  as  to  its 


270  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

effects,  considering  the  probability  of  being  hit  was  about 
equal  to  that  of  being  struck  by  lightning.  Our  artillery 
responded  to  this  fire,  the  gunners  doing  their  work  coolly,  sys 
tematically,  and,  as  it  was  believed,  with  effect. 

A  Rebel  brigade  finally  emerged  from  the  timber  and  formed 
in  line  apparently  with  the  intention  of  attacking  Carlin,  who 
thereupon  advanced  his  skirmishers,  conspicuous  among  which 
was  Capt.  Sherer's  company,  who  attacked  the  enemy  with  great 
spirit,  and  poured  a  galling  fire  upon  them.  The  reserves  came 
up  to  the  support  of  the  skirmishers,  when  the  Rebels  retired 
under  cover. 

Meanwhile  Sheridan  was  being  vigorously  pressed  in  front,  and 
had  all  he  could  do  to  maintain  his  position  and  beat  back  the 
Rebel  waves,  which,  like  an  ocean  current,  were  surging  against 
him.  His  right  was  threatened,  and  if  attacked  in  flank  he  was 
apprehensive  of  the  result,  and  desired  assistance  from  Mitchell. 
Col.  Carlin  was  ordered  to  advance  rapidly  in  Sheridan's 
support.  Pushing  through  a  skirt  of  timber,  across  open  fields 
and  ascending  a  range  of  hills  in  his  front,  he  discovered  a  strong 
force  of  the  enemy  marching  upon  Sheridan's  right.  This  posi 
tion  overlooked  much  of  the  field  where  batteries,  brigades  and 
divisions  were  fiercely  contending  for  the  mastery.  A  thin,  drift 
ing  veil  of  smoke  rested  over  the  valleys  and  enveloped  the  hills 
and  timber  belts,  and  through  this  misty  sheen  it  was  difficult  to 
comprehend  the  main  features  of  the  contest.  The  country  was 
broken  into  a  series  of  undulatory  elevations,  each  surmounted 
with  cannon,  whose  continuous  booming  was  pealing  in  deaf 
ening  cadences  upon  the  ear  like  the  roar  of  ocean  surges.  The 
hill  sides  were  fringed  with  the  fire  and  smoke  of  musketry,  its 
sharper  tones  joining  in  the  grand  chorus.  In  front  of  Sheridan 
the  crash  of  guns  was  never  silent,  and  as  the  awful  din  of  battle 


SCATTERING   THE    REBELS.  271 

rolled  up  to  the  position  occupied  by  Carlin,  he  felt  that  brothers 
were  there  who,  perhaps,  needed  his  help  to  throttle  the  cohorts 
of  treason.  He  instantly  ordered  his  troops  forward  on  the  double 
quick,  and  charged  their  advancing  column  with  such  impetuosity 
as  to  break  it  in  two,  throwing  it  into  confusion  and  scattering  the 
Rebels  to  the  four  winds.  Vain  were  the  efforts  to  rally  their 
discomfitted  troops,  the  gallant  Carlin  following  so  closely  upon 
the  heels  of  the  retreating  foe  as  to  frustrate  every  attempt  at 
forming  a  line  of  sufficient  strength  to  offer  serious  opposition. 
The  pursuit  was  vigorously  kept  up  to  within  a  short  distance  of 
Perry  ville,  to  which  the  enemy  retreated  and  formed  under  cover 
of  a  range  of  bluffs  just  to  the  right  of  town,  and  protected  by 
batteries  crowning  their  crests.  A  sharp  artillery  engagement 
ensued  at  short  range,  accompanied  by  a  lively  fusilade  of  mus 
ketry  between  the  skirmishers,  and  terribly  earnest  were  the 
demonstrations  of  mutual  hostility  interchanged  between  the 
respective  forces. 

Before  the  heavy  cannonade  which  swept  the  intervening  space 
between  the  contending  armies,  searching  out  every  nook  and 
corner  of  the  field,  the  men  were  ordered  to  lie  down.  The  con 
tinued  whizzing  of  solid  shot  and  bursting  of  shell  was  not  calcu 
lated  to  assure  one  of  entire  immunity  from  danger,  or  cause  a 
relish  for  these  messengers  of  war.  The  position  of  Company  B, 
36th  Cavalry,  at  the  left  and  rear  of  the  battery,  was  one  of  pecu 
liar  danger.  Shell  burst  in  the  midst  of  the  troops,  as  they  lay 
hugging  Mother  Earth  in  a  close  embrace,  filling  their  eyes  with 
dust  and  scattering  gravel  stones  like  drops  of  rain.  One  passed 
in  close  proximity  to  Captain  Sherer's  head,  stunning  him  for  a 
moment  and  convincing  him  that  the  exposed  position  which  the 
company  occupied  was  not  particularly  desirable.  By  Gen. 
Carlin's  order,  they  retired  a  few  yards,  in  rear  of  an  elevation, 


272  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

behind  which  they  were  comparatively  safe,  and  where  the  sound 
of  projectiles  winging  their  way  through  the  air  and  over  their 
heads  was  listened  to  with  more  satisfaction. 

Many  in  the  brigade  were  struck  down  and  mangled  by  burst 
ing  missiles.  The  sight  of  their  manly  looking  forms,  stretched 
lifeless  on  the  grass,  shocked  as  well  as  deeply  impressed  the 
whole  command.  With  the  approach  of  twilight  came  a  lull,  and 
when  darkness  finally  veiled  the  scene,  by  tacit  consent  the  fire 
of  artillery  ceased  altogether. 

Capt.  Sherer  was  ordered  to  the  vicinity  of  the  enemy's  picket 
line,  and  advanced  his  company  to  within  a  few  hundred  yards 
of  the  town,  where  every  movement  in  the  neighboring  camps 
could  be  distinctly  heard.  His  exposed  situation,  so  far  in  advance 
of  any  other  portion  of  the  army,  was  one  of  danger,  and  at  9 
o'clock  P.  M.,  by  order  of  Gen.  Mitchell,  his  command  was  with 
drawn  a  half  mile,  within  easy  supporting  distance  of  the  brigade. 

The  prompt  movements  of  Gen.  Carlin,  and  vigorous  pursuit 
of  the  enemy,  after  having  broken  their  column,  diverted  an 
attack  and  prevented  reinforcements  from  joining  those  with 
whom  he  was  already  engaged,  assisting  materially  in  the  repulse 
of  the  forces  that  so  fiercely  and  persistently  assaulted  him.  In 
the  rapid  advance  upon  Perryville,  the  enemy's  ordnance-train 
was  overtaken  and  captured,  with  its  guard  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  men  and  three  officers.  Capt.  Sherer's  company 
shared  in  the  honors  of  the  achievement. 

To  Gen.  McCook's  appeal  for  aid,  Gen.  Mitchell  responded  by 
sending  Col.  Gooding's  brigade  to  the  left.  His  command 
consisted  of  three  regiments  of  infantry  and  a  battery,  numbering 
in  all  fifteen  hundred  men  that  were  brought  into  action.  Mc 
Cook's  right  had  been  gradually  pressed  back,  first  to  Kussel's 
house,  and  then  to  a  position  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  rear  of 


THE    LINE    RESTORED.  273 

the  first,  and  nearly  at  right  angles  with  it.  Gooding's  brigade 
was  unused  to  service,  but  coming  fresh  upon  the  field,  advanced 
bravely  to  the  encounter.  The  fragments  of  Rousseau's  and  Jack 
son's  depleted  and  somewhat  despondent  divisions  rallied  to 
Gooding's  support,  and,  notwithstanding  the  preponderance  of 
numbers  against  him  he  attacked  vigorously ;  his  officers,  with  revol 
vers  in  hand,  taking  the  lead,  fearlessly  exposing  their  persons,  and 
animating  the  men  with  their  dauntless  courage.  At  once  the 
engagement  became  general  and  severe.  The  little  brigade  of 
fifteen  hundred  men  never  faltered,  but  courageously  beat  back 
every  attempt  to  overwhelm  it  by  the  rebel  force  often  or  twelve 
thousand,  concentrated  in  its  front.  Men  fell  thick  and  fast,  but 
unabated  raged  the  storm.  The  sun  sank  behind  the  western 
horizon  and  it  was  nearly  dark  when  Gooding  succeeded  in  wrest 
ing  the  position  at  Russell's  house  from  the  enemy  and  restoring 
the  line.  This  had  been  accomplished  at  an  immense  sacrifice  of 
life.  Many  of  his  best  men  had  fallen,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
brief  but  sanguinary  encounter,  five  hundred  heroes  out  of  fifteen 
hundred  lay  stretched  upon  the  field,  either  killed  or  wounded. 
Col.  Gooding  was  taken  prisoner,  but  the  left  wing  had  been 
saved. 

Just  at  dark,  a  brigade  from  Gilbert's  division  came  up,  and 
thus  strengthened,  McCook  no  longer  doubted  his  ability  to  hold 
the  position.  The  troops  bivouacked  upon  the  field,  in  the  midst 
of  dead  and  wounded  comrades,  whose  cries  of  anguish  ascended 
from  every  part  of  the  blood-stained  battle-ground.  The  casual 
ties  of  the  day  in  Rousseau's  and  Jackson's  divisions  numbered 
nearly  five  thousand.  The  confederate  commander,  by  concen 
trating  two-thirds  of  his  strength  and  bringing  it  to  bear  upon 
Rousseau  and  Jackson  in  detail,  had  overwhelmed  and  nearly 
swept  them  from  the  field.  Gen.  Buell  was  miles  away,  and  not 


274  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

aware  until  nearly  night  that  an  engagement  was  in  progress. 
Had  Crittenden's  corps  and  the  reserves  been  brought  up  early 
in  the  day,  or  had  the  troops  already  there  been  judiciously 
arranged,  and  a  vigorous  and  united  effort  made,  Bragg' s  army 
would  never  have  left  the  field,  except  as  prisoners  of  war. 

The  36th  (Greusel's)  Brigade  was  under  fire  most  of  the  day, 
generally  from  artillery  at  long  range ;  but  for  two  hours  in  the 
afternoon  at  close  quarters.  Every  charge  of  the  enemy  was 
handsomely  repulsed.  Again  and  again  did  they  advance  impet 
uously  to  the  assault,  only  to  be  hurled  back,  completely  broken 
and  discom  fitted,  being  finally  driven  in  a  disorderly  rout,  leaving 
three  hundred  and  eighty  of  their  dead  laying  within  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  of  our  position. 

As  an  advance  in  the  darkness  to  unknown  localities  would 
have  been  the  height  of  folly,  the  regiments,  nearly  exhausted 
from  the  hard  fighting,  bivouacked  upon  their  arms.  Despite  the 
excitements  of  the  day — despite  the  dead,  sleeping  their  last  long- 
sleep,  some  laying  within  a  few  feet  of  living  sleepers — exhausted 
nature  exerted  its  sway,  and  the  solemn  reflections  born  of  the 
hour  could  not  keep  them  long  awake.  Except  the  faithful  sen 
tinels,  keeping  watch  over  their  companions,  all  were  soon  soundly 
sleeping.  The  chirping  of  crickets,  or  some  new  and  unwonted 
sound,  would  cause  those  on  guard  to  hold  their  breath  and 
listen  intently  for  movements  indicative  of  a  night  attack.  Occa 
sionally  their  nerves  were  put  in  a  quiver  of  horror  as  they 
stumbled  in  the  darkness  over  the  cold  body  of  some  dead  brave. 

On  the  9th,  Col.  Greusel's  brigade  moved  to  Good-Night 
spring,  a  half  mile  northeast  of  Perry  ville,  and  camped,  the  enemy 
having  withdrawn  in  the  direction  of  Harrodsburg.  The  engage 
ment  was  not  renewed,  except  desultory  skirmishing  between 
Carlin's  advance  and  the  rebel  rear  guard.  The  38th  Brigade 


RETREAT    OF   THE    CONFEDERATES.  276 

had  penetrated  to  the  rebel  position,  was  the  furthest  in  advance, 
and  not  disposed  to  relinquish  any  of  the  advantages  gained  on 
the  previous  day.  After  a  brief  repose,  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  Co.  B.  Cavalry  was  sent  to  reconnoitre,  and  proceeded 
a  half  mile  in  the  darkness,  to  the  suburbs  of  Perryville,  finding 
a  battery  in  position,  which  commanded  the  approaches  and 
supported  by  a  force  of  infantry.  At  daylight,  the  enemy's 
infantry  was  relieved  by  cavalry,  and  left  at  once  for  Harrods- 
burg.  The  cavalry  formed  in  line,  to  hold  Carlin's  Brigade  in 
check  and  enable  the  rebel  army  to  make  good  its  retreat.  Gen. 
Carlin  was  prepared  for  demonstrations  on  their  part,  and, 
after  maneuvering  awhile,  they  withdrew,  followed  by  our  cavalry 
and  a  section  of  light  artillery,  who  pressed  them  closely ;  the 
latter  opening  upon  their  rear  and  driving  them  out  of  town. 

Reaching  the  creek,  they  held  it  until  the  brigade  was  supplied 
with  water,  when  the  artillery  pushed  on,  sending  a  few  shell  into 
the  rebel  rear,  which  put  them  to  flight,  followed  by  Company  B, 
who  pressed  the  pursuit  until  three  P.  M.,  when  a  spirited  skir 
mish  ensued,  resulting  in  the  capture  of  eleven  prisoners,  a  quan 
tity  of  ammunition,  three  cannon  and  three  thousand  stand  of 
arms  abandoned  by  the  enemy,  and  taken  possession  of  by  Capt. 
Sherer's  command.  The  road  for  miles  was  strewn  with  cloth 
ing,  muskets  and  military  trappings  of  every  description.  Every 
farm  house  and  barn  along  the  route  was  tenanted  with  wounded 
rebels,  left  without  medical  care  to  the  tender  mercies  of  their 
compassionate  enemies ;  some  of  them  with  hardly  life  enough 
remaining  to  realize  the  horrors  of  their  situation ;  others  mangled 
and  bleeding,  presented  sad  sights  and  sounds,  never  to  be  for 
gotten. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

AFTER    THE    BATTLE. 

THROUGHOUT  the  night  succeeding  the  day 
of  battle  and  excitement,  the  rest  of  the  troops 
in  Carlin's  Brigade  was  more  nominal  than 
real.  Their  position  close  upon  the  enemy's 
lines,  with  shotted  guns  looking  frowningly 
down  upon  them,  was  particularly  hazardous, 
and  demanded  extraordinary  caution  and  watchfulness  on  the 
part  of  the  command.  The  rest  of  Rousseau's  and  Jackson's 
troops  were  interrupted  by  the  moans  of  the  wounded  and 
dying  as  well  as  by  flying  rumors  of  a  night  attack.  Many  were 
without  blankets,  and  bivouacked  in  the  open  fields  with  insuffi 
cient  protection  against  the  chilly  night  air ;  added  to  this,  the 
gnawing  of  hunger  and  thirst  was  not  conducive  to  soundness  of 
repose.  The  little  snatches  of  oblivion  served  more  to  pass  away 
the  hours  of  darkness  than  to  repair  exhausted  energies  and 
restore  vigor  and  animation. 

With  the  first  streaks  of  dawn,  all  were  up  and  peering  through 
the  morning  mists  to  discover  signs  of  the  enemy.  But  they 
were  gone.  The  fields  were  untenanted  except  by  Federal  and 


THE    FIELD    AFTER   THE    BATTLE.  277 

Rebel  dead.  Little  parties  were  soon  exploring  the  cornfields, 
hollows  and  skirting  timber  in  search  of  missing  comrades.  In 
places  where  the  conflict  had  raged  the  fiercest,  where  the  ground 
had  been  repeatedly  fought  over  and  alternately  in  possession  of 
both  armies,  the  dead  of  each,  indicated  by  the  Rebel  gray  and 
Federal  blue,  lay  commingled,  often  side  by  side ;  some  with  an 
expression  of  calmness  as  if  asleep,  the  last  reflection,  perhaps, 
that  flitted  through  their  minds  being  of  home,  mother,  friends 
and  God.  Upon  the  faces  of  others  still  lingered  a  courageous, 
determined  look  as  if  when  suddenly  overtaken  with  death 
every  nerve  was  strung  to  its  utmost  tension,  every  impulse  of 
the  mind  warmed  up  to  fever  heat.  How  many  of  that  silent 
company,  whose  staring  eyes  were  looking  fixedly  toward  heaven, 
were  men  of  warm  hearts  and  generous  impulses,  who,  when 
living,  were  loved,  and  whose  death  now  caused  doting  hearts  to 
bleed.  The  official  report  of  losses  sustained  by  the  Federal 
army  was  5,525,  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  while  that  of  the 
Confederates  amounted  to  7,720.  But  few  prisoners  were  taken 
by  either  army,  and  the  large  list  of  more  than  twelve  thousand 
casualties  indicated  the  severity  of  the  conflict. 

The  picket  lines  were  extended  to  embrace  the  battle-ground 
and  protect  burial  parties  that  were  detailed  from  each  regiment 
to  search  the  field  and  collect  the  fallen,  friend  as  well  as  foe. 
The  bodies  were  generally  ranged  side  by  side  in  a  trench  dug 
for  the  purpose,  just  as  they  were,  with  their  uniforms  crimsoned 
with  blood,  wrapped  in  army  blankets  for  winding  sheets,  and 
laid  away  to  rest.  In  the  outskirts  of  the  field  where  a  few  had 
crawled  away  to  die,  they  were  buried  singly,  and  lonely  mounds 
with  rudely  marked  headboards  indicated  the  last  resting  place  of 
their  earthly  remains.  Over  the  graves  the  beautiful  burial  ser 
vice  was  read  or  a  prayer  feelingly  offered,  a  file  of  soldiers  fired 
a  farewell  volley,  and  all  was  over. 


278  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

This  field,  like  all  others,  was  strewn  with  muskets  and  the 
usual  debris  of  battle,  and  many  a  trophy  was  collected,  carried 
for  days  or  weeks,  then,  perhaps,  thrown  away.  The  men  were 
now  permitted  to  light  their  camp-fires,  make  coffee,  and  satisfy 
the  cravings  of  hunger  and  thirst,  eating  their  hardtack  and 
other  articles  of  army  fare  which  were  at  hand  with  a  gusto 
rarely  surpassed. 

Our  " battle  picture''  would  not  be  complete  if  painted  entirely 
in  the  sombre  hues  of  death,  unrelieved  by  the  brighter  colorings 
of  humor  in  which  this,  like  similar  contests,  more  or  less 
abounded.  The  battle  of  Perry ville  was  not  wholly  devoid  of. 
personal  incidents,  examples  of  individual  heroism,  of  coolness 
and  endurance  while  under  fire. 

Many  times  have  we  heard  described  the  ludicrous  appearance 
of  Lieut.  Clark,  of  Company  E,  as  he  retired  from  the  field,  in 
good  order  however,  his  wounded  arm  tied  up  with  a  handker 
chief  saturated  with  blood,  which  was  dripping  to  the  ground. 
He  was  forever  joking  with  his  men,  and  the  only  way  they 
could  get  even  with  him  was  to  taunt  him  with  his  good  fortune 
in  being  on  furlough  during  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  engaged  in 
singing  lullaby s  to  his  babies  at  home.  But  in  this  engagement 
none  were  more  plucky  and  fearless  than  he,  and  after  being 
shot,  pointing  to  his  wound  he  triumphantly  exclaimed,  "  See 
"there,  boys;  don't  one  of  you  chaps  ever  peep  to  me  again  about 
"staying  at  home  and  rocking  babies  to  sleep  until  you  get  as 
"beautiful  a  hole  as  that  bored  into  you.  I'm  more  proud  of  that 
"bullet  hole  in  my  arm  than  I  would  be  to  have  it  decorated 
"with  Major  General  Buell's  stars." 

William  Galloway,  a  private  in  Company  G,  just  before  going 
into  action  was  heard  to  complain  of  hunger.  A  comrade  stand 
ing  near,  responded,  "Never  mind  about  your  hardtack,  old  boy, 


BRAVERY  OF  CORP.  MOSSMAN.  279 

ik  you'll  soon  get  a  ration  of  lead,  a  little  more  indigestible,  per 
haps,  but  quite  as  satisfying  to  the  appetite  as  bread  and  meat." 
In  the  heat  of  the  engagement,  while  loading  his  musket  and  on 
a  half  turn,  Galloway  was  struck  by  a  charge  of  buck-shot  which 
entered  his  mouth,  lacerated  his  tongue  and  knocked  ten  teeth 
from  his  lower  jaw.  His  comrade,  on  beholding  the  frightful 
wound,  by  way  of  sympathy  exclaimed,  "  There,  Bill,  I  told  you 
" you'd  get  all  the  grub  you  wanted — are  you  satisfied  now?" 
The  wound  was  a  serious  one,  and  enabled  Galloway  eventually 
to  get  his  discharge. 

An  incident  connected  with  Corporal  William  H.  Mossman,  of 
Company  F,  illustrates  the  coolness  of  some  men  in  the  exciting 
hour  of  battle,  and  an  unwillingness  to  shirk  from  danger  and 
duty  unless  compelled  to  do  so  by  being  disabled  from  the  further 
use  of  sword  and  gun.  Corporal  Mossman  was  struck  by  a  spent 
ball  in  the  face  and  slightly  wounded.  The  blood  flowed  freely, 
and  he  at  first  imagined  the  injury  to  be  serious  enough  to  need 
looking  after,  and  started  to  the  rear  in  search  of  a  surgeon. 
Finding  himself  but  little  inconvenienced  and  his  strength  unim 
paired,  he  staunched  the  blood  as  well  as  he  could,  and  voluntarily 
returned  to  his  post  of  danger,  taking  his  place  in  the  ranks  and 
fighting  bravely  to  the  end. 

While  the  regiments  were  in  position  at  the  foot  of  the  bluffs, 
on  which  Barrett's  guns  were  planted,  and  just  before  the  rebel 
assault,  the  men  were  ordered  to  lay  down,  thus  presenting  less 
conspicuous  objects  for  the  enemy's  shot,  which  were  then  howl 
ing  savagely  around  their  heads.  Lieut.  Shaw,  of  Company  I, 
had  just  received  his  commission  as  2nd  Lieutenant,  and  being  a 
somewhat  peculiar  genius,  a  few  words  relative  to  him  may  not 
be  out  of  place.  He  was  tall — about  six  feet,  two  inches  in  hight 
— as  slim  as  a  ramrod,  with  a  light,  straggling  mustache,  which 


280  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

at  unfrequent  intervals  ornamented  his  firm,  thin  lips.  He  was 
light  and  agile  as  a  cat,  of  a  nervous,  excitable  temperament, 
which  on  this  occasion  was  strung  to  its  highest  tension.  When 
ordered  to  lay  down,  the  Lieutenant  stretched  his  gaunt  propor 
tions  out  upon  the  grass,  face  downwards,  and,  like  the  others, 
hugged  the  ground  closely.  The  near  explosion  of  a  shell,  or  the 
dull  thud  of  solid  shot  striking  near,  was  sure  to  bring  up  his  head, 
only  to  be  ordered  down  again  by  the  officers  in  charge  of  the 
entertainment.  Shaw,  though  a  good  soldier,  was  deaf  to  such 
commands,  and  the  crash  of  shot  in  the  near  vicinity  would  set 
him  upon  fingers  and  toes,  like  a  long-legged  spider,  his  head 
thrown  back  like  a  gun-lock  at  half-cock. 

At  length  the  attacking  columns  were  seen  advancing  upon 
our  position.  Every  soldier  was  reminded  of  his  duty,  and  that 
the  country  expected  a  good  account  of  them.  The  sight  of  the 
"  Johnnies  "  set  the  Lieutenant  fairly  crazy  with  excitement,  and 
to  add  to  his  confusion,  Capt.  Barnett's  double-shotted  Napoleons 
thundered  immediately  in  the  rear  and  over  the  heads  of  the 
command,  and  were  promptly  answered  by  confederate  guns. 
The  thickly  dropping  missiles  turned  the  attention  of  the  men  to 
the  danger  that  menaced  them,  and  but  little  thought  was  bestowed 
on  each  other.  A  long-fused  shell  came  tearing  through  the  tree- 
tops,  and,  striking  a  large  hemlock,  was  turned  downward,  shriek  - 
and  fizzing  to  the  ground,  dropping  between  the  outstretched  legs 
of  Lieut.  Shaw.  In  exploding,  it  not  only  excavated  a  quantity 
of  soil,  but  carried  away  a  portion  of  one  of  the  Lieutenant's 
he  sis.  Oh  !  the  gyrations,  the  antics  and  acrobatic  feats,  which 
foi  a  few  moments  diverted  the  attention  of  the  men  from  the 
charging  enemy.  In  a  trice,  Shaw  was  up  and  on  his  feet,  then 
pitched  forward,  like  a  frog  taking  a  frantic  dive  in  a  mud-puddle. 
Alighting  on  the  ground,  he  was  up  again,  and  with  an  unearthly 


CAPT.  SILAS  MILLER'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  BATTLE.       281 

moan,  went  dancing  on  one  foot,  like  a  will-o'-the-wisp,  to  the 
rear.  Thus  he  hopped  away  from  his  company,  and  his  comrades 
saw  him  no  more.  He  was  taken  to  Louisville,  and,  being  per 
manently  disabled,  soon  after  resigned — much  to  the  regret  of 
his  company,  who  had  become  familiar  with  his  peculiarities  and 
loved  him  for  his  goodness  of  heart,  his  soldierly  bearing  and  his 
tireless  devotion  to  the  welfare  and  comfort  of  his  men. 

Capt.  Silas  Miller,  who  commanded  the  36th  Regiment  during 
the   battle   of  Perryville,    was  subsequently  captured  at  Stone 
river,  and  detained  a  prisoner  of  war  many  months.     After  his 
release,  and  while  on  his  way  to  join  his  command,  his  friends 
and  fellow-citizens  at  Aurora  requested  him  at  a  public  meeting 
to  detail  some  of  his  experiences  in  connection  with  the  army  of 
the  United  States.      The  hall  was  crowded,  and  his  speech  was 
listened  to  with  the  closest  attention.     We  have  taken  the  liberty 
of  transcribing  some  of  his  remarks  relative  to  the  battle  of  Per 
ryville,  believing  that  his  words  will  be  treasured  by  the  survivors 
who  revere  the  memory  of  a  brave  man  and  gallant  commander. 
"On  the  7th  of  October  we  neared  Perryville.     That  night  we 
were  called  on  for  pickets  as  we  had  been  four  nights  before. 
The  first  thing  to  be  done  was  to   deploy  in   search   of  water, 
which  we  found  some  of  our  boys  in  quiet  possession  of.     The 
next  morning  our  army  was  attacked,  the  first  gun  being  fired  by 
the  pickets  of  the  36th  Regiment.     From  early  in  the  morning 
heavy  skirmishing  continued,  the  2nd  Missouri  Regiment  driving 
the  Rebels  before  them.     That  night  the  corps  of  Gen.  Gilbert 
came  up.     Later  in  the  day  Gen.  McCook's  corps  was  attacked 
very  sharply.     We  fell  back,  and  had  hardly  executed  a  change 
in  front,  when,  hearing  a  yell,  we  saw  the  banners  of  the  Rebels 
advancing  over  the  fields.     We  could  see  their  bright  bayonets 
glitter  in  just  as  beautiful  a  line  of  battle  as  was  ever  formed. 
We  lay  perfectly  still  and  did  not  display  ourselves  till  they  came 
within  range  of  canister.      We  then  received  the  order  to  fire. 

19 


282  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and  from  a  thousand  pieces  leaped  forth  the  death-dealing  bullets 
which  finally  caused  the  Rebels  to  reel  and  fall  back  in  utter  con 
fusion.  Oh  !  you  do  not  know  the  sweet  little  gulp  of  satisfac 
tion  that  comes  up  in  the  throat  to  see  them  bite  the  dust.  You 
don't  know  the  ecstasy  it  gives  a  man  to  see  them  mowed  down 
in  swaths  and  see  their  banners  fall  to  the  ground.  You  don't 
know  and  you  cannot  conceive  the  delight  and  indescribable  joy 
it  gives  one  to  see  a  Rebel  fall  and  welter  in  his  own  death  gore. 

T  know  it  is  wicked  to  think  and  say  so,  and  it  is  damnable  to 
act  so.  We  call  it  glory !  Is  it  not  glory  to  destroy  a  public 
pest  and  put  out  of  existence  those  who  have  caused  so  much 
misery  and  bloodshed  ?  I  think  it  is.  I  never  felt  more  confi 
dent  and  joyful  than  when  I  saw  them  coming  upon  us :  Was 
glad  they  were  to  be  so  badly  punished — glad  they  were  coming 
up  to  try  us.  But  mark !  we  left  nine  men  dead,  and  seventy- 
five  just  as  good  boys  as  ever  breathed  the  air  of  heaven,  on  that 
day  sealed  their  patriotism  with  their  blood. 

We  also  insert  the  report  of  Captain  Miller,  which  is  brief  a  but 
concise  statement  of  the  prominent  part  taken  by  the  36th  111., 
in  the  action  near  Perryville. 

HEADQUARTERS  36ra  ILL.  INF.,  ^j 

GOOD  NIGHT  SPRINGS,  NEAR  PERRYVILLE,  KY.,      > 

OCTOBER  10,  1862. ) 

COL.  N.  GREUSEL,  Commanding  &Ith  Brigade,  \\th  Division, 
Army  of  the  Ohio : 

This  regiment  was  detailed  for  picket  duty  on  arriving  at  camp, 
between  Fredericksburg  and  Perryville,  on  the  night  of  the  7th 
inst.  Three  companies  were  deployed  as  skirmishers  to  the  right 
of  the  road  leading  to  Perryville,  and  the  remainder  advanced  on 
the  road,  taking  a  position  to  the  right  thereof.  Towards  morn 
ing  a  skirmish  occurred  with  the  outposts  to  our  left,  but  the  35th 
Brigade  being  advanced,  the  enemy  retired.  Battery  I,  2nd  Illi 
nois  Artillery,  advanced  to  the  hill  beyond,  and  this  regiment, 
by  your  order,  took  position  in  the  timber  to  the  right  rear  of  the 
battery,  where  it  remained  until  about  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.  The 
enemy  having  again  retired,  it  was  advanced  across  the  open 


PART  TAKEN  BY  THE  36TH. 

field,  through  the  timber  in  front,  to  a  position  in  support  of  Bat 
tery  G,  1st  Missouri  Artillery.  It  remained  in  position  there 
until  withdrawn  by  your  order  to  a  position  behind  a  cornfield, 
to  the  right  of  the  Perry ville  road — one  section  of  artillery  being 
posted  on  its  left  and  two  sections  upon  the  hill  directly  in  rear 
of  the  center. 

The  enemy's  infantry  in  strong  force  advanced  upon  this  posi 
tion,  and  this  regiment  was  here  first  engaged.     The  fire  was 
opened  "by  file"  in  each  platoon,  and  continued  until  our  ammu 
nition  (fifty  rounds  per  man)  was  exhausted.  Finding  the  ammuni 
tion  running  low,  Adjutant  Biddulph  was  sent  for  more ;  but  it 
becoming  entirely  consumed  before  his  return  and  the  enemy's 
fire  much  slackened,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  "fix  bayonets  ;" 
but  being  advised  by  you  that  the  enemy's  cavalry  menaced  us 
towards  the  left,  the  regiment  was  ordered  "  by  the  right  of  com 
panies  to  the  rear,"  leaving  space  for  another  regiment  (the  24th 
Wisconsin),  supplied   with   ammunition.      Some  confusion   was 
occasioned  in  retiring,  on  account  of  the  88th  Illinois  covering  the 
three  right  companies,  but  after  passing  through  the  battery,  a 
new  line  was  promptly  formed  to  the  left  of  the  battery,  on  the 
left  of  the  road,   in   the  cornfield,   where  our  ammunition  was 
immediately  replenished.      The  enemy's  attack  upon   our  first 
position  had,  in   the  meantime,  been  repulsed  and  they  put  to 
flight  by  a  charge  from  our  infantry.     The  enemy  appearing  in 
front  of  our  new  position,  the  21st  Michigan  was  ordered  by  you 
to  join  us,  and  then  both  regiments  were  retired  by  your  direc 
tion  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,   to  support  Barnett's  battery  in  a 
new   position,   which  battery  had  opened  fire  upon  the  flank  of 
the  enemy  pressing  on  our  forces  to  the  left.     The  regiment  lay 
upon  its  arms  on  the  hill  during  the  night.     On  the  morning  of 
the  9th,  taking  a  position  in  rear  of  the  88th  Illinois  Infantry, 
they  were  ordered  to  advance  to  this  camp,  arriving  here  at  five 
P.  M. 

All  officers  acquitted  themselves  honorably  and  bravely,  so 
that  all  are  entitled  to  consideration,  as  brave  and  efficient  offi 
cers.  I  desire  on  my  own  part  to  thank  Capt.  Porter  C.  Olson 


284  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

for  his  daring  and  efficiency  in  aiding  to  command  the  regiment 
during  the  action,  and  acting  Adjutant  Biddulph,  communicating 
with  you  and  others  during  the  heat  of  the  contest.  Appended 
will  be  found  a  list  of  the  casualties  during  the  action,  as  follows  : 
Killed,  9 ;  wounded,  64,  including  seven  officers. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  respectfully, 

SILAS  MILLER, 
Captain  36th  111.  Inf.  Vol.,  Commanding  Regiment. 

KILLED. 

Company  A,  Patrick  Gibbons,  private. 
Company  B,  Henry  Reitz,  private. 
Company  D,  Charles  Seymour,  private. 
Company  F,  William  C.  Jackson,  private. 
Company  F,  W.  S.  Nelson,  Corporal. 
Company  K,  William  B.  Giles,  Corporal. 
Company  K,  Harrison  Skinner,  private. 
Company  K,  John  H.  Underwood,  private. 
Company  K,  Thomas  Moffatt,  private. 

WOUNDED — COMPANY  A. 

Albert  Anderson,  left  lung,  died.  Henry  Howe,  right  hand. 

Timothy  Ring,  shoulder  and  side.  Alx.  Robinson,  Sergt.,  left  arm. 

Patrick  Branrion,  left  arm .  John  Blackman,  missing. 
Thomas  Staunton,  right  arm. 

COMPANY    B. 

Ernst  Ansorg,  bowels ,  died.  John  P.  Fife,  neck. 

D.  B.  Roberts,  lower  jaw.  Charles  W.  Sears,  right  hand. 

J.  C.  Donnell,  left  side. 

COMPANY    C. 

Ralph  Miller,  right  shoulder,    died.  W.  H.  Harper,  thigh. 

John  F.  Henderson,  abdomen,  died.  Dan.  P.  Baldwin,  left  ear. 

John  J.  Cavis,  left  leg.  Isaac  Carson,  left  hand. 
W.  V.  Reader,  thigh. 

COMPANY    D. 

Lieut.  George  Parker,  shoulder.  James  Hurst,  knee,  died. 

Lieut.  J.  H.  Thompson,  breast.  Thomas  Shaw,  hip,  died. 

Clinton  Lloyd,  left  hand.  William  P.  Pyle,  died. 

John  Murley,  wrist. 

COMPANY  E. 

Lieut.  Wm.  H.  Clark,  left  arm.  Henry  Collman,  left  breast,   died. 

John  Phontiel,  neck.  C.  D.  Ward,  right  hand. 

Eugene  Benoit,  shoulder,  died.  James  Harroll,  face. 

M.  E.  Cornell,  shoulder.  G.  W.  Lannigan,  hand. 

Erastus  Beecher,  ankle,  died.  George  Merrill,  left  hand. 


LIST   OF   CASUALTIES.  285 

WOUNDED — COMPANY   P. 

Terris  Johnson,  leg.  Wm.  Coltrip,  wrist  and  hip. 

Emra  Strait,  knee  and  thigh.  Wm.  Eastman,  leg. 

COMPANY    G. 

Wm.  Galloway,  lower  jaw.  J.  F.  Sanders,  left  side. 

C.  H.  Chandler,  left  leg,  died. 

COMPANY    H. 

Capt.  T.  L.  Griffin,  both  legs.  William  H.  Jones,  leg. 

Lieut.  Morris  Briggs,  left  shoulder.  D.  D.  Warnick,  leg. 

Wallace  Benson,  left  leg.  B.  Yanness,  left  arm. 

O.  H  Murray,  head  and  wrist.  Jerome  C.  Ford,  abdomen. 

COMPANY    I. 

Lieut.  David  E.  Shaw,  ankle.  Fred   Shuienburg,  shoulder. 

Lewis  Bower,  leg.  Nathan  Hunt,  hand. 

Benedict  Stamphley,  leg.  Fred.  Witzkey,  missing. 

COMPANY    K. 

Capt.  A  C.  Holden,  right  arm.  E.  M.  Pratt,  right  arm. 

John  H  Johnson,  right  thigh.  Edward  Clark,  hip,  died. 

Peter  Barnett,  left  leg.  Abraham  Long,  left  arm. 
Henry  C.  Allen,  left  foot. 

Preparations  for  resuming  the  pursuit  the  following  day  were 
made  by  sending  such  of  the  wounded  as  could  be  removed  to 
Louisville,  and  leaving  behind  as  few  surgeons  and  temporary 
field  hospitals  as  were  absolutely  necessary.  Wagon  and  ambu 
lance  trains  were  started  at  once,  freighted  with  human  suffering 
and  wounded  heroes,  and  as  the  train  wound  its  way  over  hills 
and  rough  roads,  jolting  across  rocks  and  into  ruts,  or  rattling 
along  the  hard  pavement  of  Kentucky  turnpikes,  fearful  were 
the  sufferings  of  those  most  severely  injured.  At  last,  after 
being  battered  and  used  up  generally,  they  reached  Louisville, 
and  were  consigned  to  clean  hospital  cots,  where  they  lay  and 
wondered  if  they  had  not  been  passing  through  the  mills  of  the 
gods  and  been  ground  down  exceedingly  fine.  Clean,  well  ven 
tilated  rooms,  clean  shirts  and  clothes  generally,  worked  favorable 
changes,  and  in  a  few  weeks  many  returned  to  their  places  in  the 
ranks,  ready  to  do  and  die  if  need  be  for  country  and  right. 


286  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Others  were  crippled  for  life,  and  eventually  received  their  dis 
charge,  to  hobble  their  way  through  the  thorny  paths  of  life  on 
crutches. 

A  few  hospital  sketches  must,  of  course,  find  place  somewhere 
in  our  story.  Our  history  would  be  incomplete  without  them ;  and 
as  the  consecrated  walls  of  the  hospitals  at  Louisville  at  this  time 
were  crowded  with  the  sick  and  maimed,  which  like  a  vast  sea 
was  ever  ebbing  and  flowing,  we  have  taken  the  liberty  of  trans 
cribing  from  one  of  the  diaries  kindly  loaned  us. 

TUESDAY,  OCT.  30TH. — My  wound  has  troubled  me  but  little 
to-day.  I  have  read  much  of  the  time,  both  the  newspapers  and 
my  Bible.  There  is  much  consolation  in  that  Book  of  Books  to 
a  bed-ridden,  homesick  and  much  demoralized  soldier.  Here  is 
a  gem:  "  Him  that  cometh  to  me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out." 
I  pondered  long  over  that  promise  and  thought  to  cast  all  my 
cares  and  sorrows,  hopes  arid  fears  before  the  throne  of  God  and 
implore  Divine  assistance  and  aid.  When  my  silent  petition  was 
ended  and  I  came  to  review  it,  I  found  that  every  request  was 
for  the  alleviation  of  my  own  sufferings  and  for  personal  bles 
sings — it  was  all  for  self.  My  own  wants  and  wishes  was  the 
burthen  of  that  prayer.  Oh  !  this  is  a  sad,  hard  and  selfish 
world,  with  none  but  selfish  creatures  in  it. 

Just  then,  who  should  appear  but  one  of  the  "guardian  angels" 
of  the  hospital — two  ladies,  sisters,  resident  in  the  city,  whose 
whole  time  is  devoted  to  the  sick  and  suffering  ones,  who  daily 
drift  in  from  the  army.  They  are  constant  visitants  of  the  hos 
pitals  and  minister  to  the  sick  and  dying.  One  sat  by  my  bed 
side  and  talked  long  and  earnestly  with  me ;  entering  with  the 
keenest  zest  into  all  my  present  trials  and  future  plans,  and 
before  she  left,  I  learned  to  regard  her  as  all  the  others  do — as  a 
kind  sister  and  friend.  How  many  a  sick  and  despondent  sold 
ier  has  cause  to  bless  these  fair  angels  of  mercy,  who  smooth  the 
dying  pillow  and  cheer  the  weary  spirit  in  its  flight  to  the 
brighter  world  beyond.  Their  coming  brings  a  gleam  of  sun 
shine  into  the  chambers  of  sickness,  that  leaves  a  bright  halo 


INCIDENTS    OP   HOSPITAL    LIFE.  287 

lingering  around  our  couches  long  after  they  have  departed. 
Nothing  but  innate  goodness,  a  strong  sense  of  Christian  duty, 
regardless  of  self,  prompts  them  to  the  performance  of  these 
labors  of  love.  Oh !  this  world  is  not  quite  so  selfish,  after  all. 
There  is  much  of  love,  true  and  unwavering,  yet  left  in  the 
world,  and  this  war,  with  all  its  untold  horrors,  has  now  and 
then  a  cheering  ray  to  relieve  its  night  of  darkness.  Dwight 
Follett.  from  Ohio,  with  as  patriotic  impulses  as  ever  inspired 
human  being,  left  a  home  where  peace  and  plenty  abounded  and 
nothing  was  wanting  to  complete  his  happiness  and  promote  his 
highest  earthly  good.  He  left  all  for  his  country,  and  fearlessly 
encountered  the  camp,  the  march  and  the  battle-field.  For  a  few 
weeks  he  bore  up  bravely — did  cheerfully  all  that  duty  and 
patriotism  required.  But  alas  !  disease  fastened  its  remorseless 
fangs  upon  his  vitals,  and  we  find  him  languishing  on  a  bed  of 
pain. 

To  yonder  home  sped  the  sad  tidings,  and  without  a  moment's 
delay  his   mother  hastened   to   the  cot  of  her  boy.      She  found 
him  very  low — almost  at  the  portals  of  death.     For  six  long  and 
weary  weeks  has  she  sat  and  watched  by  the  side  of  her  darling 
boy.      Visitors  look  into  his  pallid  face  and  whisper,    "  he  must 
die!'       The  physician  sees  no  ray  of  hope,  and  has  long  since 
pronounced  his  case  a  hopeless  one.     Not  so,  that  mother.     Her 
abiding  faith  in  a  God  that  is  a  hearer  and  answerer  of  prayer, 
tells  her  that   her  son   shall  live,   and  from  that  distant  home 
comes  the  father's  word  of  cheer,  for  he,  too,  prays  Heaven  that 
the   sick  one's  life  may  be  spared.       How  strong,  how  abiding 
that  mother's  love.     On  awaking  in  the  early  morning,  I  see  her 
standing  by  the  sick  one's  couch.     From  morning  to  evening  she 
is  there ;  and  during  the  watches  of  the  night,  noiselessly  and 
oft  she  steals  to  the  side  of  her  sleeping  son.      Next  to  God's,  a 
mother's  love  is  unfailing.      Yesterday,  when  all  but  hope  had 
fled,  one  little  ray  of  life  was  seen  to  steal  over  his  countenance, 
faintly   lighting  up   his   glazed  and   fixed  eye.       To-day  he  is 
better  still.      Oh !  'tis  good  to  see  that  mother's  heart  thrill  with 
gladness.     With  an  unshaken  trust  in  God,  she  believes  her  boy 
will  yet  be  well. 


288  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

MONDAY,  Nov.  5TH. — It  was  a  long  time  last  night  before  I 
could  get  to  sleep.  My  wound  was  painful  and  my  back  ached 
as  if  being  stretched  upon  the  wheel  of  torture  ;  my  flesh  was 
tender  and  my  mind  as  irritable  as  my  body  was  sore.  As  I  lay 
upon  my  cot,  the  gas-light  turned  down  until  only  a  thin  spire 
of  flame,  dimly  flickering,  served  to  make  visible  the  deep  gloom 
of  night.  I  even  fancied  that  dull  light  sharpened  the  percep 
tions,  and  never  before  did  I  remember  of  being  more  sensibly 
affected  in  body  and  mind  by  each  little  disturbing  noise  and 
the  breathing  of  sleepers  around  me. 

The  man  in  the  cot  next  to  mine  was  afflicted  with  a  cough, 
which  might  well  be  compared  to  a  fog-horn,  or  the  hoarse  tones 
of  a  thunder  storm.  'Twas  not  a  small,  hacking  cough,  escap 
ing  from  just  beyond  the  lips,  but  deep  and  unfathomable ;  surg 
ing  up  from  the  lowest  depths  ;  wrenching  every  joint  and  muscle 
of  the  mortal  system.  That  cough  would  long  ago  have  wrecked 
any  common  craft,  sailing  on  its  tumultuous  billows.  That  cough 
was  enough  to  supply  a  regiment,  and  then  have  had  a  sur 
plus  sufficient  for  any  possible  contingency.  There  was  no  let 
up  to  it  at  this  time,  and  all  night  long  it  was  cough,  cough, 
cough — like  the  soughing  of  a  steamboat,  or  the  hoarse  barking 
of  a  blood-hound. 

On  the  other  side  was  a  lubberly  fellow,  who  appeared  to  care 
more  for  his  rations  than  for  the  disease  with  which  he  is  said  to 
be  afflicted.  It  is  ludicrous  as  well  as  annoying  to  listen  each 
day  to  the  recital  of  his  various  ailments,  forming  a  chapter  as 
long  as  the  song  with  nine  hundred  and  ninety-nine  verses  in  it, 
the  last  like  the  first  and  they  like  all  the  rest,  only  a  thousand 
times  more  uninteresting.  Well,  he  is  terribly  given  to  snoring, 
and  such  deep,  unearthly  snores  coming  from  the  cavernous 
depths  of  a  huge  pair  of  lungs,  rushing  like  a  hurricane  through 
a  flabby  glottis  and  distended  nostrils,  in  tones  as  unmusical  as 
the  rasping  of  a  saw  or  the  hooting  of  a  bazoon.  There  was  no 
cessation  in  the  notes  he  gave  us  that  night. 

It  was  a  snore  so  deep,  sonorous, 
As  to  shake  the  ceiling  o'er  us. 


A    HEAVY   SNORER.  289 

Another,  in  a  distant  corner,  laying  near  the  cot  of  a  German, 
was  all  night  long  talking  in  his  sleep.  His  dreams  were  vocal 
ones,  and  it  would  have  puzzled  the  most  rapid  short-hand 
reporter  to  have  followed  the  vagaries  of  his  wandering  and  som 
nolent  senses.  At  times  he  was  at  work  upon  the  farm,  driving 
oxen  or  horses,  and  then  engaged  in  some  fierce  brawl.  Very 
few  in  that  chamber  of  the  sick  attended  to  their  own  business, 
and  refrained  from  meddling  with  their  neighbors.  At  times  the 
poor  German  in  the  corner  was  nearly  frightened  out  of  his  wits, 
and  when  he  heard  an  extra  snore, 

"  Wilder,  fiercer  than  before," 

I  could  see  him  raise  up  in  his  bed,  cast  a  malignant  glance  in 
the  direction  of  the  snorer,  and  in  accents  of  despair  cry  out, 
"  Schay,  you  dhare,  stophs  dat  !  me  none  at  all  schleeps  dees 
nicht."  Thus  might  I  go  the  rounds  among  the  wheezy,  groan 
ing,  moaning,  sighing,  dying  and  rueful  visaged  inmates  of  this 
hospital  and  find  each  possessed  of  some  characteristic  peculiarly 
their  own  that  would  attract  attention. 

No  history  of  events  connected  with  the  rebellion  would  be 
complete  without  a  notice  of  the  hospital  and  sanitary  depart 
ments,  and  the  unremitting  labors  of  many  of  the  surgeons  in 
caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded  in  their  commands.  In  this 
respect  the  36th  was  peculiarly  fortunate,  and  suffered  less  from 
sickness  and  malignant  diseases  than  any  other  regiment  of  equal 
number  in  the  army  of  the  United  States.  In  his  report  to  Gen. 
Sheridan,  Col.  Greusel  used  the  folio  wing  language,  "  Dr.  Young, 
"  the  brigade  surgeon,  deserves  the  highest  praise  for  his  admir- 
"  able  arrangements  arid  great  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded." 

Very  many  of  the  slightly  wounded  at  Perryville  in  a  few 
weeks  returned  to  the  regiment  for  duty,  and  participated  in  the 
succeeding  campaigns  of  Murfreesborough  and  Chickamauga. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 


PERRYVILLE   TO    NASHVILLE. 

•  AM  expected  to  furnish  that  part  of  the  history 
of  the  36th  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers  which 
came  under  my  own  observation,  extending  from 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  in  October,  1862,  to  the 
occupation  of  Columbia,  in  November,  1864. 
My  connection  with  the  regiment  really  began 
with  a  letter  from  Capt.  A.  M.  Hobbs.  of  Company  E,  dated 
Rienzi,  July  27th,  1862,  informing  me  of  a  vacancy  in  the  office 
of  Chaplain,  and  that  it  was  the  unanimous  desire  of  the  officers 
of  the  regiment  that  I  should  accept  it.  This  letter  was  received 
during  the  excitement  which  followed  the  Presidential  call  for 
300,000  more  troops,  and  while  aiding  to  procure  fresh  enlist 
ments  in  what  afterward  was  known  as  the  89th  Illinois  Regi 
ment.  Coming  at  such  a  time  and  entirely  unsought,  this  invi 
tation  seemed  to  deserve  special  attention,  and  as  I  gave  some 
encouragement  that  I  would  accept,  a  recommendation,  signed 
by  Col.  Greusel  and  every  field  and  line  officer,  was  forwarded 
to  the  Governor,  and  a  commission,  dated  August  18th,  was  sub 
sequently  issued. 


BOOKS  AND  PAPERS  FOR  THE  REGIMENT.       291 

Among  other  preparations  for  my  work,  I  wrote  to  the  friends 
of  the  regiment  in  nearly  every  place  that  had  furnished  com 
panies,  inviting  them  to  aid  me  in  supplying  the  regiment  with 
suitable  reading.  A  cheerful  response  was  received,  and  before 
leaving  Chicago  I  was  able  to  make  arrangements  with  Rev.  Mr. 
Savage  for  a  regular  supply  of  soldiers'  papers  arid  books.  B. 
P.  Jacobs,  Esq.,  also  gave  me  three  hundred  soldiers'  hymn 
books,  which  we  afterward  found  a  most  valuable  acquisition. 
Lieut.  Geo.  A.  Willis  (who  was  on  leave  of  absence)  and  I,  started 
from  Aurora  Monday  morning,  Sept.  29th,  intending  to  join  the 
regiment  at  Louisville.  On  Wednesday  morning,  Oct.  1st,  I 
started  alone  from  Chicago,  Lieut.  W.  having  missed  the  train. 
On  reaching  Louisville,  on  Thursday  morning,  it  was  found  that 
the  regiment  had  marched  on  the  1st,  in  the  army  under  Geri. 
Buell,  to  attack  and  drive  Bragg  out  of  Kentucky.  A  detach 
ment  of  the  86th,  under  Lieutenant  Wakeman,  was  left  in  charge 
of  the  camp,  and  with  them  we  took  up  our  quarters  until  our 
horses  should  arrive.  Here  I  caught  my  first  glimpse  of  the  stir, 
bustle  and  confusion  of  army  life,  as  I  saw  the  streets  thronged 
with  officers,  soldiers,  horses,  mules,  wagons  and  negroes.  I 
soon  found,  too,  that  what  many  thought  would  be  a  disadvan 
tage,  my  being  attached  to  one  of  the  old  regiments,  was,  in 
fact,  a  very  great  advantage,  and  I  had  many  reasons  afterward 
for  being  confirmed  in  this  opinion.  On  the  Sabbath,  I  dis 
tributed  reading  matter  and  preached  in  the  afternoon  in  a  neigh 
boring  church,  having  for  the  first  time  in  ray  life  a  congrega 
tion  exclusively  of  men,  and  all  of  them  United  States  soldiers. 
A  mess  in  one  of  the  companies,  noted  for  their  excellent  forag 
ing  and  cooking  powers,  invited  me  to  dine,  and  certainly  we 
had  a  sumptuous  entertainment.  I  very  wisely  abstained  from 
making  any  enquiries  about  the  magnificent  turkey  which  occu 
pied  the  place  of  honor  at  the  table ! 


292  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

We  heard  from  time  to  time  by  orderlies  who  came  in,  that 
the  regiment  was  marching  south,  and  as  soon  as  our  horses 
arrived  we  made  preparations  to  follow.  It  was  not,  however, 
until  Thursday  morning,  Oct.  9th,  that  we  could  start — taking 
the  Bardstown  pike.  In  this  first  day  we  rode  about  thirty  miles, 
through  a  most  beautiful  and  fertile  country,  abounding  in  rich 
and  productive  farms.  We  suffered,  however,  from  the  intense 
heat  and  found  a  great  scarcity  of  water.  Towards  night  the 
country  became  more  hilly,  and  there  were  rumors  of  a  battle 
which  it  was  said  had  been  fought.  We  made  several  attempts 
to  find  lodging,  but  the  people  were  suspicious  and  declined  to 
receive  us.  At  last,  as  it  grew  late,  a  family  by  the  name  of 
Evans  reluctantly  consented  that  we  might  stay '  with  them. 
Evans  was  a  southern  sympathizer,  while  his  wife  was  quite  bit 
ter  ;  but  they  fed  us  well  and  gave  us  a  good  bed.  Starting  next 
morning,  we  reached  Bardstown  about  ten  o'clock  and  there 
learned  many  particulars  of  the  battle,  which  had  undoubtedly 
taken  place.  We  traveled  on  in  a  heavy  rain  until  we  reached 
Springfield,  meeting  by  the  way  one  of  Col.  Greusel's  orderlies, 
from  whom  we  learned  that  the  36th  was  in  the  fight — had  stood 
their  ground  two  hours,  and  had  one  hundred  killed  and  wounded. 
We  stayed  over  night  at  the  same  tavern — a  big,  uncomfortable 
house — where  several  of  the  Southern  generals  had  lodged  a  few 
nights  before.  The  rain  fell  heavily,  the  trains  were  delayed, 
and  we  knew  that  the  troops  had  no  rations.  Next  morning  we 
started  forward  and  about  one  o'clock  came  upon  the  buildings 
occupied  by  our  wounded  men,  left  in  charge  of  Dr.  Pierce, 
many  of  whom  we  knew.  Here  we  learned  all  the  particulars 
of  the  battle,  and  were  thrilled  with  the  stories  each  man  had  to 
tell.  By-and-by  we  started  forward,  crossing  the  battle-field, 
on  which  were  stretched  a  number  of  dead  bodies — my  first  sight 


ARRIVAL    OF    THE    CHAPLAIN.  293 

of  a  real  field  of  battle.  On  reaching  the  corral  near  Perryville 
we  bivouacked  with  the  quarter-master's  department  and  I  took 
my  first  experience  of  sleeping  out  of  doors.  The  blazing  fires, 
the  confused  voices  of  men,  the  rattle  of  horses,  mules  and 
wagons,  and  over  head  the  deep,  dark  sky,  studded  with  quiet 
stars,  altogether  made  a  scene  so  novel  and  impressive,  that  I 
shall  never  forget  it. 

Next  morning,  which  was  Sunday,  October  12th,  we  started 
to  join  the  regiment,  and  after  riding  past  long  files  of  men 
marching  or  resting  by  the  roadside,  we  came  upon  the  36th 
about  two  miles  out.  Willis  was  received  with  a  shout,  and  I 
had  a  cordial  welcome  from  the  officers  and  such  of  the  men  as 
I  was  acquainted  with.  It  was  well  for  me  that  I  did  not  learn 
until  subsequently  the  real  feelings  of  many  on  seeing  a  Chaplain 
appear  among  them.  But  long  afterward,  when  our  Sabbath  ser 
vices  and  other  meetings,  our  papers  and  libraries  had  done  their 
work,  and  we  came  to  feel,  from  sharing  in  common  danger  and 
sufferings  a  tender  interest  in  each  other,  both  officers  and  men 
became  more  communicative,  and  I  learned  how  they  felt  during  the 
first  weeks  of  my  Chaplaincy.  Col.  Miller,  the  year  following, 
as  we  sat  together  in  the  beautiful  chapel  we  had  built  at  Cowan, 
told  me  that  as  the  men  were,  that  morning  on  which  I  arrived, 
without  rations,  and  therefore  peculiarly  irritable,  having  been 
destitute  for  many  months  of  any  religious  or  refining  influences, 
they  vented  their  rage  against  the  Government  for  sending  them 
a  chaplain  instead  of  hardtack.  One  sergeant,  notorious  for 
his  profanity,  was  especially  loud  in  his  denunciation,  when 
Capt.  Miller,  who  then  commanded  the  regiment,  threatened  that 
if  he  uttered  any  such  language  in  my  hearing  he  would  reduce 
him  to  the  ranks.  This  closed  his  lips,  and  was  a  warning  to 


294  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

others.     Long  afterwards  the  rough   man    delighted  to   tell   me 
what  a  change  had  come  over  him  about  chaplains. 

At  eleven  o'clock  we  halted,  and  immediately  cattle,  hogs, 
sheep,  calves  were  slaughtered,  and  the  hungry  men  relieved. 
Strict  orders  had  been  issued  against  this,  but  necessity  knows 
no  law,  and  the  Generals  did  not  interfere.  The  country  through 
which  we  marched  to  Harrodsburg  was  rolling  and  varied,  and 
the  scenery  delightful.  We  encamped  for  the  night  in  a  rain, 
but  Capt.  Hobbs  procured  me  accommodation  in  a  house  near  by. 
The  next  day  we  marched  but  a  mile  or  two,  with  long  hours  of 
waiting  by  the  roadside,  and  it  seemed  inevitable  that  the  enemy 
would  escape.  At  night  I  stepped  out  of  the  Colonel's  tent  to  take 
a  look  at  the  vast  encampment,  lighted  up  for  miles  around  with 
camp-fires  made  of  Kentucky  rails,  and  I  thought  I  had  never 
seen  a  sight  more  grand  and  exciting.  During  the  night  several 
orders  arrived  looking  to  sharp  work,  but  finally  word  came  that 
the  enemy  had  " skedaddled." 

The  next  day  we  passed  through  the  most  lovely  country, 
studded  with  delightful  residences,  and  entered  Danville  about 
eleven  o'clock.  This  is  one  of  the  finest  towns  in  Kentucky, 
one  of  the  blue-grass  region.  The  houses  were  attractive,  the 
gardens  and  grounds  laid  out  with  great  taste  and  planted  with 
evergreens.  But  the  brightest  recollection  of  Danville  is  con 
nected  with  the  Ladies'  Seminary,  at  the  windows  of  which  stood 
crowds  of  young  ladies,  whose  variety  of  beautiful  dresses  gave 
them  the  appearance  of  bouquets  of  flowers,  and  whose  loyalty 
was  expressed  by  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs  and  flags.  Most 
heartily  did  the  boys  respond  to  their  greeting.  In  the  after 
noon  I  rode  forward  with  several  officers  to  watch  the  novel  pro 
cess  of  shelling  the  enemy's  rear,  and  next  morning  while  doing 
the  same  thing,  I  caught  sight  of  the  retreating  Rebels,  and  saw 


A    PRAYER    MEETING    CALLED.  295 

their  arms  glittering  in  the  sun.  On  entering  Lancaster  we 
were  met  by  the  people  with  flags,  cheers  and  rejoicings.  Still 
on  we  went,  until  tired  and  hungry  we  went  into  camp  near 
Crab  Orchard  about  sundown.  As  it  was  evidently  no  use 
attempting  to  follow  up  the  enemy  any  further,  the  army  rested 
here  until  the  following  Monday.  The  time  was  busily  employed 
in  washing  up,  writing  letters,  &c.,  which  are  the  first  employ 
ments  of  a  soldier  in  camp.  Crab  Orchard  itself  proved  to  be  a 
dilapidated  village,  which  had  evidently  been  a  Southern  water 
ing  place,  but  if  it  ever  had  any  attractions  they  had  certainly 
disappeared.  In  every  soldier's  memory  the  place  is  remembered 
as  the  southern  extremity  of  our  Kentucky  march  after  Bragg. 

Here  I  was  able  to  make  a  beginning  with  my  chaplain's  work. 
The  first  night  I  called  a  prayer  meeting,  when  fourteen  were 
present,  and  another  the  following  night,  with  twenty-six  pres 
ent.  I  was  much  assisted  in  becoming  acquainted  with  the  reg 
iment  religiously  by  the  kindness  of  Sergt.  Mann,  of  Company 
A,  whose  blameless  character  throughout  his  army  life  gave  him 
great  influence  among  the  men.  On  Sunday,  October  20th,  we 
held  our  first  public  service  at  two  o'clock.  Contrary  to  the 
custom  which  was  observed  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  I  insisted 
that  the  attendance  of  both  men  and  officers  should  be  entirely 
voluntary.  As  the  result,  when  the  call  sounded,  there  assem 
bled  on  the  side  of  a  knoll  which  had  been  selected,  a  very  large 
proportion  of  the  whole  regiment  as  well  as  men  from  other 
commands.  We  had  a  good  supply  of  hymn  books  and  a  choir 
to  lead  the  singing,  and  the  sight  of  so  many  men  who  had  been 
destitute  of  all  religious  services  for  months,  i.  e.  since  they  left 
Holla,  Missouri,  standing  up  to  join  in  the  old,  familiar  hymns, 
was  one  not  to  be  easily  forgotten.  Before  sermon  I  told  them 
of  the  interest  in  them  expressed  to  me  by  their  friends  at  home, 


296  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLtJNTEERS. 

of  the  provision  I  had  made  for  a  supply  of  reading,  and  of  my 
willingness  to  spend  and  be  spent  for  their  welfare,  inviting  any 
of  them  who  might  need  my  assistance  to  come  without  hesita 
tion.  I  then  preached  a  short  sermon  on  "The  blessedness  of 
sins  forgiven,"  and  we  closed  with  singing,  "  My  faith  looks  up 
to  Thee,  Thou  Lamb  of  Calvary."  When,  after  night  all  through 
the  companies  could  be  heard  the  sound  of  singing,  as  they  used 
the  new  hymn  books,  I  was  sure  that  the  Sabbath  and  religious 
services  were  needed  by  all. 

To  me  it  was  not  only  interesting  but  instructive  to  learn  of 
the  different  comments  made  upon  the  service  by  the  men.  Some 
who  had  threatened  to  resist  if  compelled  to  attend,  had  all  their 
prejudice  removed  by  being  simply  invited.  Some  were  partic 
ularly  gratified  that  they  were  not  addressed  in  military  lan 
guage,  as  soldiers,  regiment  or  batallion,  but  as  a  congregation. 
It  reminded  them  of  home,  and  they  liked  even  for  a  few  moments 
to  feel  relieved  from  the  restraints  of  a  military  life.  The  ser 
geant  so  notorious  for  his  profanity,  mentioned  before,  declared 
he  would  come  just  once,  and  if  I  said  anything  about  swearing 
he  would  never  come  again,  and  as  there  proved  to  be  no  men 
tion  of  that  sin  that  day,  he  thought  I  would  do  pretty  well. 
Many  a  service  did  we  hold  together  in  the  next  two  years,  but 
that  one  at  Crab  Orchard  will  always  stand  alone. 

Next  morning,  Oct.  21,  we  marched  early,  and  as  soon  as  the 
column  began  to  head  north  and  it  was  evident  we  were  about  to 
return  over  the  old  ground,  the  indignation  of  the  men,  which 
had  been  gathering  for  several  days,  broke  out  in  the  most  vio 
lent  language.  Indeed,  one  of  the  most  startling  facts  that  I 
encountered  on  joining  the  army  was  the  spirit  of  rebellion, 
amounting  almost  to  mutiny,  which  prevailed  so  largely.  Apart 
from  the  hardships  of  the  march,  the  excessive  heat,  the  dust, 


A  JOKE  ON  THE  73D  REGIMENT.  297 

which  was  blinding  and  suffocating,  the  lack  of  rations  and  other 
physical  trials,  there  was  a  deep  dissatisfaction  with  the  conduct 
of  the  campaign,  and  especially  that,  after  we  had  suffered  so 
much  and  lost  so  many  men,  the  enemy  were  to  be  allowed  to 
escape.  Both  the  commanding  generals  and  the  Government 
came  in  for  their  shares  of  the  blame. 

Gens.  Buell  and  Gilbert  were  the  last  commanders  of  this  army 
who  clung  to  the  theory  of  conducting  the  war  on  peace  princi 
ples — avoiding  everything  that  would  irritate  the  South.  This 
policy  had  already  cost  us  vast  treasures  of  blood  and  money. 
The  country  was  becoming  sick  of  it,  and  the  army  was  demand 
ing  a  change.  Within  a  week  of  this  time  a  change  was  effected, 
so  that  I  saw  our  soldiers  just  when  their  indignation  was  the 
worst  and  their  opposition  to  conservative  generalship  most  rebel 
lious.  Gen.  Gilbert  had  no  just  conception  of  the  peculiar  treat 
ment  necessary  to  control  the  American  volunteer,  and  when  he 
began  to  treat' him  in  ways  that  implied  equality  with  the  dregs 
of  society  so  often  swept  into  a  regular  army,  he  woke  a 
spirit  of  opposition  that  vented  itself  in  acts  which  he  found  him 
self  unable  to  check.  Men,  wrho  in  the  rough  campaigning  of 
Missouri  and  Arkansas,  had  been  compelled  to  learn  the  art  of 
foraging,  were  stimulated  to  show  how  skillfully  they  could  set 
at  defiance  the  orders  which  Gen.  Gilbert  issued.  Stories  illus 
trating  this  spirit  were  constantly  told — not  to  defend  the  acts 
themselves,  but  just  as  men  talk  over  the  successful  tricks  they 
played  on  their  teachers  when  they  were  boys. 

When  on  the  march  near  Crab  Orchard,  some  of  the  36th  boys 
killed  twenty  or  thirty  fat  sheep,  belonging  to  a  native  Kentuck- 
ian,  and  after  dark  threw  the  pelts  into  the  camp  of  the  73rd  Illi 
nois  Regiment.  Now  the  73rd  was  gotten  up  by  the  Methodists  of 

Illinois  and  included  many  preachers  and  members  of  the  Meth- 
20 


300  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

march  we  were  cheered  by  having  our  mail  distributed  as  we 
moved  along,  but  the  men  were  thoroughly  exhausted  when  we 
reached  camp.  This  was  not  to  be  wondered  at  when  the  heat  and 
dust  of  each  day  and  the  cold  at  night  are  considered,  arid  most 
of  the  men  had  only  a  single  blanket,  others  only  a  rubber  blanket 
for  their  covering.  Here  we  stayed  till  Saturday,  25th,  resting 
well,  but  suffering  much  for  want  of  rations.  I  had  one  meal  of 
boiled  beef  alone,  and  our  mess  could  have  crackers  only  by  bor 
rowing  a  few  from  some  more  favored  ones.  While  waiting  here 
many  troops  passed  us,  but  we  were  henceforth  to  belong  to  Gen. 
McCook's  corps.  It  was  here,  therefore,  we  bade  farewell  to  Gen. 
Gilbert  and  the  old  regime,  and  a  new  order  of  things  commenced. 

A  letter  written  from  this  point  to  the  Aurora  Beacon  adds :  "  We 
"reached  this  camp  last  evening,  and  are  stopping  to-day  wait- 
"  ing  for  rations.  Lebanon  is  the  terminus  of  the  Louisville  & 
"  Lebanon  Railroad,  which  road  is  now  to  furnish  us  with  sup- 
"  plies.  All  this  section  of  country  has  of  late  been  under  Rebel 
"  rule,  consequently  all  the  bridges  have  been  burned  and 
"  destroyed  that  could  possibly  impede  the  movements  of  the 
"  Federal  army.  The  bridges  on  the  Lebanon  road  have  just 
"  been  completed,  and  the  first  train  of  cars  arrived  at  Lebanon 
"  last  evening,  and  the  supplies  are  to-day  being  landed  from 
"  them  for  the  army.  We  are  marching  on  what  the  Commanders 
"in  this  department  term  'light-footed,'  which  mean,  when  prop- 
"  erly  interpreted,  without  tents  or  clothing  and  with  as  little 
"  food  as  can  possibly  keep  body  and  soul  together.  This  is 
"  Buell's  policy,  to  which  he  adds  his  admirable  strategy,  which 
uis  to  keep  as  far  from  Bragg  as  possible,  and  when  by  accident 
"he  does  meet  him,  to  fight  him  lightly." 

On  Saturday  morning  we  started  out  again,  leaving  Lebanon 
and  the  pike  to  the  right  and  made  through  the  woods  for  the 


AN    UNPLEASANT    SUNDAY.  301 

little  town  of  Newmarket.  The  wind  had  risen  and  blew  very 
cold.  At  noon  it  began  to  rain  and  snow,  and  a  regular  storm 
set  in.  The  boys  were  without  warm  clothing,  their  shoes  were 
worn  out,  and  they  had  a  hard  time.  I  find  in  my  journal  the 
entry,  "  One-half  the  sufferings  of  the  army  will  never  be  known." 

Sunday  morning  we  had  five  inches  of  snow,  and  the  weather 
severely  cold.  The  men  tried  to  make  themselves  comfortable  by 
building  sheds  of  rails  and  straw,  but  we  were  almost  suffocated 
with  the  smoke  of  the  camp  fires.  Services  were  out  of  the 
question,  and,  beyond  some  singing  a  few  of  us  had,  there  was 
nothing  to  mark  the  Sabbath  day.  We  were  glad  to  go  to  bed 
early  to  keep  warm.  Monday  morning  we  resumed  our  march, 
taking  the  road  south  to  Bowling  Green,  through  Salome,  a  vil 
lage  of  about  thirty  houses.  This  was  one  of  the  days  to  be 
remembered.  Though  intensely  cold  in  the  morning,  the  weather 
was  fine  and  gradually  grew  warmer.  The  country  was  very 
attractive,  being  either  wild  and  romantic  or  beautiful  and  roll 
ing  ;  in  some  places  the  road  winding  on  the  side  of  a  ravine, 
with  precipitous  sides  fifty  feet  above  and  seventy-five  feet  below 
it — another  division  at  the  same  time  marching  on  the  opposite 
side.  The  open  country  was  as  beautiful  as  many  parts  near  the 
Hudson,  needing  only  the  same  intelligent  cultivation  to  make  it 
in  every  respect  its  equal.  The  bracing  air,  the  beautiful  coun 
try,  the  more  congenial  command,  and  best  of  all  the  forward 
march,  gave  the  men  new  spirit,  and  I  saw  them  to-day  at  their 
best  as  a  week  ago  I  had  seen  them  at  their  worst.  We  went 
into  camp  on  the  top  of  a  knoll  with  regiments  on  all  sides  of  us, 
whose  camp-fires  made  an  inspiring  sight.  I  wrote  in  my  jour 
nal,  "  Such  is  life — full  of  contrasts.  If  every  day  was  like 
"yesterday,  deliver  me  from  a  soldier's  life;  if  every  day  were 
"  like  to-day,  a  soldier's  life  would  be  pleasant." 


302  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  following  days  we  marched  across  the  corners  of  Taylor, 
Hart  and  Barron  counties,  crossed  the  Little  Barron  river,  the 
largest  stream  we  had  seen  since  leaving  Louisville.  Ascending 
the  opposite  bank  was  very  much  like  going  up  stairs,  and  occa 
sioned  much  delay.  The  country  continued  to  improve,  and  after 
a  continuous  and  rapid  march  of  twenty -two  miles,  we  camped  at 
Pruett's  Knob,  a  little  beyond  Cave  City.  Here  the  army  waited 
over  one  day  for  rations,  and  were  mustered  for  pay.  While 
quite  a  number  explored  the  Knob,  a  huge,  sugar  loaf  mountain 
covered  with  scrubby  timber,  a  party  was  made  up  to  visit  Mam 
moth  Cave,  eight  miles  distant.  Capts.  Miller  and  Sherer, 
Adjt.  Willis,  Lieut.  Barnard,  Dr.  Pierce  and  myself,  with  two  or 
three  others,  started  about  two  o'clock  on  this  excursion.  The 
country  over  which  we  rode  to  the  cave  is  itself  a  curiosity.  It 
is  made  up  of  precipitous  hills  and  vast  basins,  which  are  deeply 
depressed  in  the  centre.  Some  of  them,  not  more  than  five  hun 
dred  feet  across  from  side  to  side,  seemed  to  be  one  hundred  feet 
lower  in  the  centre  than  at  the  edge.  Immense  crevices  at  the 
bottom  of  these  basins  permit  the  waters  which  are  gathered  by 
these  great  funnels  to  pass  into  the  underground  streams.  No 
streams  of  wrater  are  found  on  the  surface  for  miles  around,  except 
Green  river,  which  seems  to  be  the  outlet  of  these  subterranean 
streams.  No  creeks,  brooks  nor  rivulets  exist  upon  the  surface, 
though  the  country  is  a  constant  succession  of  hills  and  hollows. 
The  cliffs,  the  rocks  by  the  roadside,  and  even  the  small  stones 
seem  full  of  holes,  recesses  and  grottos,  as  if  all  of  them  were 
trying  to  make  little  caverns  in  imitation  of  the  great  Mammoth 
Cave,  just  as  children  are  prone  to  imitate  the  curious  and  won 
derful  feats  of  older  persons. 

After  a  ride  of  an  hour  or  two  over  this  region,  we  arrived  at 
Cave   Hotel — a  large  building,  with  rooms  all  around  opening  on 


A    SOUTHERN    HOTEL. 


303 


a  piazza,  after  the  manner  of  Southern  watering-places,  and  capa 
ble  of  accommodating  five  hundred  persons.  Of  course  while  visitors 
were  constantly  coming  and  going,  there  was  no  such  crowd  as 
belongs  to  peaceful  times.  After  a  very  hearty  supper,  we  entered 
the  cave  under  the  guidance  of  Mat  Bransford,  who  had  served  in 
that  capacity  for  over  twenty  years  and  had  traveled  in  the  cave 
over  fifty  thousand  miles.  He  was  a  genuine  original  character 
and  made  things  lively  all  the  way.  Under  his  directions  we 
visited  all  the  principle  avenues  and  halls ;  passed  through  Fat 
Man's  Misery ;  looked  into  the  Bottomless  Pit ;  stood  by  the 
Dead  Sea  and  Lake  Purity,  and  sailed  on  Echo  River,  on  which 
a  revolver  was  fired  several  times.  It  was  frequently  suggested 
that  should  Morgan  make  his  appearance,  he  would  have 
us  in  a  tight  place.  On  the  whole,  we  walked  about  eighteen 
miles  and  came  out  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  A..  M.  The 
condition  of  the  atmosphere  is  such,  however,  that  we  could  walk 
further  without  weariness  than  above  ground.  In  the  parlors  of 
the  hotel  we  saw  specimens  of  the  eyeless  fish. 

After  a  good  sleep  and  excellent  breakfast,  we  started  for  Bell's 
Station,  where  we  found  the  regiment  just  coming  in.  We  fell 
in  and  finished  with  them  sixteen  miles  of  marching  that  day. 
We  were  all  much  rejoiced  to  be  joined  by  Lieut,  Wakeman  with 
the  men,  tents  and  equipage  that  had  been  left  behind  at 
Louisville.  The  size  of  the  regiment  and  its  comfort  were 
very  much  increased.  It  might  be  noted  as  something- 
remarkable  that  we  had  potatoes  for  supper.  Next  day  we 
marched  to  Bowling  Green  and  went  into  camp  a  mile  beyond  the 
town.  Here  we  erected  tents  and  in  general  put  things  to  rights. 
Gren.  Rosecrans  arrived  on  the  afternoon  train  and  took  command 
of  the  army.  Next  day  being  Sunday,  I  was  able  to  distribute 
a  good  supply  of  reading,  which  had  arrived,  and  make  arrange- 


302  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  following  days  we  marched  across  the  corners  of  Taylor, 
Hart  and  Barren  counties,  crossed  the  Little  Barron  river,  the 
largest  stream  we  had  seen  since  leaving  Louisville.  Ascending 
the  opposite  bank  was  very  much  like  going  up  stairs,  and  occa 
sioned  much  delay.  The  country  continued  to  improve,  and  after 
a  continuous  and  rapid  march  of  twenty-two  miles,  we  camped  at 
Pruett's  Knob,  a  little  beyond  Cave  City.  Here  the  army  waited 
over  one  day  for  rations,  and  were  mustered  for  pay.  While 
quite  a  number  explored  the  Knob,  a  huge,  sugar  loaf  mountain 
covered  with  scrubby  timber,  a  party  was  made  up  to  visit  Mam 
moth  Cave,  eight  miles  distant.  Capts.  Miller  and  Sherer, 
Adjt.  Willis,  Lieut.  Barnard,  Dr.  Pierce  and  myself,  with  two  or 
three  others,  started  about  two  o'clock  on  this  excursion.  The 
country  over  which  we  rode  to  the  cave  is  itself  a  curiosity.  It 
is  made  up  of  precipitous  hills  and  vast  basins,  which  are  deeply 
depressed  in  the  centre.  Some  of  them,  not  more  than  five  hun 
dred  feet  across  from  side  to  side,  seemed  to  be  one  hundred  feet 
lower  in  the  centre  than  at  the  edge.  Immense  crevices  at  the 
bottom  of  these  basins  permit  the  waters  which  are  gathered  by 
these  great  funnels  to  pass  into  the  underground  streams.  No 
streams  of  water  are  found  on  the  surface  for  miles  around,  except 
Green  river,  which  seems  to  be  the  outlet  of  these  subterranean 
streams.  No  creeks,  brooks  nor  rivulets  exist  upon  the  surface, 
though  the  country  is  a  constant  succession  of  hills  and  hollows. 
The  cliffs,  the  rocks  by  the  roadside,  and  even  the  small  stones 
seem  full  of  holes,  recesses  and  grottos,  as  if  all  of  them  were 
trying  to  make  little  caverns  in  imitation  of  the  great  Mammoth 
Cave,  just  as  children  are  prone  to  imitate  the  curious  and  won 
derful  feats  of  older  persons. 

After  a  ride  of  an  hour  or  two  over  this  region,  we  arrived  at 
Cave   Hotel — a  large  building,  with  rooms  all  around  opening  on 


A    SOUTHERN    HOTEL. 


308 


a  piazza,  after  the  manner  of  Southern  watering-places,  and  capa 
ble  of  accommodating  five  hundred  persons.  Of  course  while  visitors 
were  constantly  coming  and  going,  there  was  no  such  crowd  as 
belongs  to  peaceful  times.  After  a  very  hearty  supper,  we  entered 
the  cave  under  the  guidance  of  Mat  Bransford,  who  had  served  in 
that  capacity  for  over  twenty  years  and  had  traveled  in  the  cave 
over  fifty  thousand  miles.      He  was  a  genuine  original  character 
and  made  things  lively   all  the  way.       Under  his  directions  we 
visited  all  the  principle  avenues  and  halls ;  passed  through  Fat 
Man's  Misery ;  looked  into  the  Bottomless   Pit ;  stood  by  the 
Dead  Sea  and  Lake  Purity,  and  sailed  on  Echo  River,  on  which 
a  revolver  was  fired  several  times.       It  was  frequently  suggested 
that    should    Morgan    make    his    appearance,    he    would   have 
us  in  a  tight  place.     On  the  whole,  we  walked  about  eighteen 
miles  and  came  out  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  \.  M.     The 
condition  of  the  atmosphere  is  such,  however,  that  we  could  walk 
further  without  weariness  than  above  ground.      In  the  parlors  of 
the  hotel  we  saw  specimens  of  the  eyeless  fish. 

After  a  good  sleep  and  excellent  breakfast,  we  started  for  Bell's 
Station,  where  we  found  the  regiment  just  coming  in.  We  fell 
in  and  finished  with  them  sixteen  miles  of  marching  that  day. 
We  were  all  much  rejoiced  to  be  joined  by  Lieut,  Wakeman  with 
the  men,  tents  and  equipage  that  had  been  left  behind  at 
Louisville.  The  size  of  the  regiment  and  its  comfort  were 
very  much  increased.  It  might  be  noted  as  something 
remarkable  that  we  had  potatoes  for  supper.  Next  day  we 
marched  to  Bowling  Green  and  went  into  camp  a  mile  beyond  the 
town.  Here  we  erected  tents  and  in  general  put  things  to  rights. 
Gen.  Rosecrans  arrived  on  the  afternoon  train  and  took  command 
of  the  army.  Next  day  being  Sunday,  I  was  able  to  distribute 
a  good  supply  of  reading,  which  had  arrived,  and  make  arrange- 


304  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

ments  for  preaching,  which  took  place  at  two  o'clock,  and  though 
the  day  was  very  cold  and  all  the  companies  were  busy  preparing 
to  draw  shoes  and  clothing,  we  had  a  large  attendance  at  the  ser 
vice.  An  excellent  prayer  meeting,  attended  by  Mr.  Seymour, 
of  Lisbon,  Kendall  County,  closed  the  day. 

The  work  of  equipment  went  forward  briskly  the  next  day. 
At  night  we  had  a  meeting  for  singing  in  my  tent,  and  on  Tues 
day  morning,  Nov.  4th,  we  resumed  our  march  toward  Nashville. 
About  three  miles  out,  we  passed  Lost  River,  so  called  because  it 
disappears  in  a  cave,  miles  in  extent.  Some  of  the  boys  explored 
it  as  far  as  one  candle  would  light  them.  The  prevalence  of 
springs,  &c.,  hereabouts  indicates  that  the  whole  country  is  prob 
ably  formed  like  that  about  Mammoth  Cave.  Marched  fifteen 
miles  and  then  camped  at  the  edge  of  a  beautiful  grove.  Next 
day  we  passed  through  Franklin,  a  good  substantial  village  of 
about  seven  hundred  inhabitants,  and  a  county  seat.  Here  an 
old  man  and  wife  came  in  from  the  country  and  gave  the  boys  a 
quantity  of  apples.  Very  soon  we  crossed  the  line  into  Tennes 
see,  a  huge  stone  marking  the  spot.  The  country  now  presented 
a  poor  appearance ;  Mitchellsville,  near  the  line,  being  a  poor, 
tumble-down  village,  so  nearly  deserted  that  there  were  not  inhab 
itants  enough  left  to  even  tell  us  the  name  of  their  miserable 
town.  The  only  evidence  that  it  had  ever  been  inhabited  was 
an  old  advertisement  posted  on  the  side  of  a  deserted  log-house 
whisky  shop,  announcing  that  Levi  J.  North's  Democratic  Cir 
cus  would  exhibit  there  on  a  certain  day  in  the  past.  The  boys 
of  the  88th  soon  recognized  the  thing  as  of  Chicago  origin,  and 
cheered  accordingly.  Mitchellville  was  at  that  time  the  terminus 
of  the  Nashville  and  Louisville  Railroad,  and  was  a  fair  repre 
sentative  of  the  Tennessee  towns  we  had  passed  through  thus  far 
in  this  trip.  It  was  forty-five  miles  from  Nashville  and  all  our  sup 
plies  for  this  immense  army  had  to  be  hauled  from  there  by  teams. 


VISIT    TO    NASHVILLE.  305 

Two  regiments  of  our  brigade  were  here  detached  (21st  Mich 
igan  and  24th  Wisconsin)  to  guard  the  railroad.  We  camped  at 
night  about  four  miles  from  the  State  line.  Next  day,  after 
marching  about  ten  miles,  we  passed  Tyree  Springs,  where  was 
a  large  hotel  capable  of  accommodating  five  hundred  guests. 
Another  small  place,  Goodlettsville,  was  also  passed,  and  we 
camped  after  marching  twenty-four  miles.  Next  day  our  brigade 
was  in  the  rear  of  everything,  and  was  much  delayed  in  starting 
and  marching.  The  wind  was  terribly  cold  and  piercing,  so  that 
I  suffered  more  than  in  all  the  past  four  weeks.  On  the  way  we 
learned  how  the  enemy  had  approached  Nashville  in  three  col 
umns  to  throw  Negley  oft'  his  guard,  while  Morgan  with  his 
cavalry  came  round  prepared  to  burn  the  bridge  over  the  Cum 
berland.  But  Negley  was  not  caught,  the  force  guarding  the 
bridge  being  able  to  drive  Morgan  oif.  As  we  came  nearer  Nash 
ville  the  country  improved,  and  we  passed  many  fine  residences, 
with  grounds  laid  out  and  adorned  with  evergreens.  We  passed 
a  number  of  burning  houses,  and  went  into  camp  at  Edgefield 
about  five  o'clock.  Here,  and  in  a  camp  about  half  a  mile  oif, 
we  remained  two  weeks,  giving  opportunity  for  a  general  clean 
ing  up,  posting  books,  making  out  rolls,  &c.,  all  of  which  is  so 
necessary  to  the  comfort  and  efficiency  of  an  army. 

Of  course  too,  an  early  visit  was  made  to  Nashville,  and  it 
must  be  confessed  with  some  disappointment.  One  writer  says  : 
"Most  of  our  Northern  boys  (myself  among  the  number) 
"  expressed  themselves  surprised  and  disappointed  in  regard  to 
"  Nashville.  It  is  not  so  large  or  so  fine  a  city  as  we  anticipated. 
"Its  buildings  are  old,  dirty  and  dilapidated.  The  streets  are 
"  narrow,  rough  and  decidedly  filthy.  The  State  House  is  a 
"  large,  extravagant  institution.  It  is  really  the  majority  of 
"Nashville.  Externally  it  presents  an  imposing  appearance. 


306  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

"  It  is  built  on  a  high  elevation  of  ground,  near  the  center  of 
"  the  city,  and  of  a  very  fine  quality  of  stone.  The  great  objec- 
"  tion  to  its  outside  arrangements  is  the  limited  quantity  of 
"  grounds  surrounding  it.  Internally  it  has  some  fine  things, 
u  and  some  that  are  very  objectionable.  Its  lower  stories  are  too 
"  low.  The  offices  and  hall  look  squat  and  dingy.  The  Repre- 
'w  sentative  and  Senate  chambers  are  magnificent,  their  decora- 
"  tions  and  ornaments  are  well  designed  and  splendidly  executed. 
;;The  workmanship  throughout  the  entire  building  is  very  fine. 
:'  The  next  thing  worthy  of  note  is  the  grave  of  ex-President 
"  James  K.  Polk.  He  is  buried  in  the  front  yard  of  his  own 
"  residence,  near  the  centre  of  the  city.  The  whole  arrange- 
"  ment  looks  solid  and  lasting.  The  residence  is  brick,  and  built 
"  after  the  Southern  style.  It  looks  old,  dilapidated  and  neg- 
"  lected.  The  yard  is  pretty  well  ornamented  with  shrubbery, 
"  evergreens  and  fine  walks."  And  yet  allo.wance  must  be  made 
for  the  fact  that  these  were  war  times,  that  everything  was  being 
used  to  the  utmost,  and  nothing  repaired  or  improved,  so  that  a 
rapid  deterioration  must  be  expected. 

The  State  House  grounds,  &c.,  were  bristling  with  thirty -two 
pounders,  protected  by  bales  of  cotton,  and  guarded  by  soldiers. 
The  cemetery  was  a  beautiful  place,  but  it  was  sad  to  see  that  the 
number  of  soldiers  buried  here  had  already  reached  1740,  and  as 
I  visited  the  hospitals  from  time  to  time,  I  saw  many  likely  to 
increase  the  number. 

During  the  first  week,  Gen.  Rosecrans  reviewed  the  army  by 
brigades,  and  having  heard  of  the  skill  of  the  36th  in  the  manual 
of  arms,  he  gave  Col.  Greusel  an  opportunity  of  exhibiting  their 
powers,  which  he  did  to  the  great  gratification  of  the  General, 
who  said  to  the  rest,  who  were  nearly  all  new  troops,  u  Now, 
beat  that  if  you  can  !"  At  this  time,  too,  the  36th  was  the  won- 


THE  HEALTH  OF  THE  REGIMENT.  307 

der  and  envy  of  all  new  regiments  for  their  vigorous  health  and 
abounding  spirits.  They  were  always  ready  for  a  game  or  shout 
when  off  duty,  while  not  a  few  of  other  regiments  would  mope  and 
sit  around  listlessly,  until  they  were  sick  in  earnest.  In  an  article 
published  in  the  Atlantic  Monthly,  the  36th  was  pronounced 
"the  healthiest  regiment  in  the  service."  Beside  the  usual 
amount  of  picket  and  guard  duty,  foraging  on  the  country  had 
to  be  carried  on  systematically.  On  one  occasion,  the  36th  was 
one  of  three  regiments,  accompanied  by  two  sections  of  a  battery, 
to  guard  three  hundred  wagons,  and  the  occasion  was  improved 
to  do  some  foraging  on  private  account.  One  journal  says,  "No. 
3  got  twenty-five  fowls,  green  apples,  dried  do.,  molasses,  porker, 
&c."  Provisions  at  this  time  were  very  dear;  flour,  thirteen 
dollars  per  barrel ;  potatoes,  four  dollars  per  bushel ;  butter,  one 
dollar  per  pound,  and  poor  at  that ;  eggs,  one  dollar  per  dozen ; 
black  tea,  two  and  a-half  dollars  per  pound,  and  other  things  in 
proportion. 

About  this  time,  some  of  the  new  commissions  began  to  come 
in,  among  which  were  Capt.  Albert  Jenks,  for  Lieutenant- 
Colonel;  Capt.  Silas  Miller,  as  Major,  and  Lieut.  Geo.  A.  Wil 
lis,  as  Captain  Co.  A  Cavalry  Some  had  written  to  the  Aurora 
Beacon  a  few  days  before,  "  The  regiment  proposes  to  send  out  a 
"  party  to  recruit  officers.  There  has  not  been  a  field  officer  with  it 
"  since  the  middle  of  August,  and  since  the  casualties  at  Perry  ville 
"  there  is  an  average  of  one  line  officer  per  company.  We  hope  for 
"  the  interest  of  the  regiment  that  this  state  of  things  will  not  much 
longer  continue."  By  these  promotions  Lieut.  Willis  had  to 
report  to  his  company  in  Mississippi  to  the  great  regret  of  all.  "  He 
"  has  been  with  us  from  the  start  and  is  one  of  us.  He  is  the  good 
"fellow  of  the  regiment,  and  we  cannot  do  without  him.  No  one 
"man  has  so  many  friends  in  the  36th  Regiment  as  Willis." 


308  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

These  two  weeks  gave  me  opportunity  to  organize  my  own  work. 
On  my  way  thus  far,  I  had  proposed  to  such  as  were  interested 
in  the  formation  of  a  religious  society  to  give  some  bond  of  union 
to  all  who  desired  to  fight  the  stern  battles  of  a  Christian  life. 
At  Bowling  Green  I  began  to  take  the  names  of  those  willing  to 
unite,  and  at  Edgefield  quite  a  number  joined  us,  both  of  those 
who  had  been  professors  of  religion  at  home  and  those  who  were 
desirous  of  becoming  such.  Our  public  services,  and  prayer 
meetings  grew  in  interest  so  that  on  Sunday,  Nov.  16th,  we  had 
a  very  large  and  solemn  congregation,  and  I  felt  that  my  work 
had  really  begun.  I  had  heard  so  much  of  the  difficulties  found 
by  chaplains  in  obtaining  any  opportunity  for  their  work,  that  I 
anticipated  meeting  them  myself.  I  was  sure,  however,  from  a 
little  observation,  that  some,  at  least,  of  these  difficulties  were 
created  by  the  indiscreet  methods  of  the  chaplains  themselves, 
and  I  sought  to  avoid  them.  I  arranged  always  to  have  reading 
matter  ready  for  distribution  every  Sunday  morning  and  passed 
around  the  tents  myself.  I  found  every  Sabbath  an  increasing 
eagerness  to  receive  what  I  brought.  I  invariably  called  on  the 
commanding  officer  with  the  best  I  had,  and  asked  him  at  what 
hour  it  would  be  convenient  to  have  service,  thus  at  once  securing 
his  kindly  co-operation  and  avoiding  all  clashing  of  appointments 
and  duties,  and  throughout  my  entire  connection  with  the  regi 
ment  I  had  service  on  every  Sabbath,  when  such  a  thing  was 
possible.  My  commanding  officers  were  almost  always  present, 
and  generally  among  the  first  to  appear  on  the  ground.  Who 
ever  else  has  to  complain  of  a  lack  of  sympathy  in  his  work  on 
the  part  of  his  officers,  I  have  not.  At  this  time  I  also  made 
out  for  my  own  use,  a  complete  list  of  both  officers  and  men, 
which  aided  not  a  little  in  my  future  labors,  and  when  we  came 
to  the  sterner  realities  of  battle,  proved  simply  invaluable. 


VISIT    TO    THE    STATE    LUNATIC    ASYLUM.  309 

On  Saturday,  November  22nd,  we  moved  camp  to  a  pleasant 
location  about  seven  miles  south  of  Nashville,  on  the  Nolensville 
pike,  near  Seven  Mile  Creek.  Here  we  remained  between  two 
and  three  weeks,  the  time  being  occupied  by  skirmish  and  brig 
ade  drills,  and  picket  and  forage  duties.  Our  stay  at  this  and 
the  next  camp,  Mill  Creek,  was  rather  of  the  pleasant  order.  A 
good  many  visits  were  made  to  other  commands,  and  short  jaunts 
into  the  surrounding  country,  while  a  ride  to  Nashville  was  a 
common  thing.  One  of  the  most  interesting  of  these  visits  was 
made  by  the  surgeons,  Capt.  Hobbs  and  myself,  to  the  89th  Illi 
nois,  in  Willich's  Brigade,  camped  close  by  the  State  Lunatic 
Asylum.  We  made  quite  a  lengthy  call  at  the  Institution,  where 
we  were  received  very  kindly  and  shown  over  the  building  and 
its  attachments.  The  main  building  was  about  three  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  long  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  deep,  with  a 
corresponding  height,  the  grounds  laid  out  with  evergreens,  box 
and  ivy,  with  rookery  and  fish  pond.  Inside,  the  rooms  were 
finely  papered  and  carpeted,  and  the  walls  adorned  with  pictures 
of  every  order,  from  grave  to  gay,  and  every  means  seemed  to  be 
used  to  interest  and  profit  the  inmates,  of  whom  we  saw  a  good 
many.  The  most  interesting  sight  of  all,  however,  was  the  exten 
sive  green-house,  adorned  with  twenty  thousand  varieties  of  beau 
tiful  productions,  including  many  tropical  plants.  Here  we  saw 
the  palm  leaf  growing,  and  the  magnificent  Victoria  Regia,  of 
which  there  are  only  two  or  three  specimens  in  the  country.  The 
superintendent  had  been  removed  for  his  rebellion,  but  it  was 
interesting  to  notice  that  the  Southern  people  had  been  perfectly 
willing  to  leave  their  unfortunate  friends  in  our  hands.  There 
was  every  proof  that  they  would  not  suffer  in  our  care. 

Thursday,  November  27th,  being  Thanksgiving,  it  was  pro 
posed  that  we  have  a  brigade  Thanksgiving  service,  and  Col. 


310  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

» 

Greusel  requested  me  to  preach.  All  necessary  preparations 
were  carefully  made,  when  at  three  o'clock  Thursday  morning  we 
were  called  up  to  join  an  expedition  consisting  of  the  2nd  and 
15th  Missouri,  44th,  88th  and  36th  Illinois,  with  two  sections  of 
Barnett's  battery.  We  penetrated  six  miles  into  the  Confederate 
lines,  driving  in  the  cavalry  pickets,  who  fired  their  pieces, 
mounted  their  mustangs  and  fled  at  double  quick.  After  waiting 
until  Col.  Schafer  could  cross  over  to  the  next  pike,  we  returned 
to  camp,  arriving  about  three  o'clock,  and  somehow  a  good  supply 
of  rations,  not  included  in  the  army  list,  found  their  way  back 
with  us.  One  incident  of  our  trip  is  thus  described  by  Dr. 
Young:  "  Soon  after  starting  the  second  instalment  of  Rebel 
'•  pickets,  we  were  joined  by  a  smart,  sprightly  negro,  aged  about 
"  twenty-five  years,  who  knew  the  roads,  and  volunteered  to  show 
4 *us  the  way  across  the  creek,  as  the  Rebels  had  burned  the 
"  bridge  and  the  stream  was  not  fordable  at  that  point.  It  so 
"happened  that  our  orders  ended  right  at  his  master's  plantation. 
"  We  halted  there  about  two  hours.  All  the  whites  and  blacks 
l-  had  fled  when  we  came  in  sight.  Some  of  our  boys  suggested 
<:  to  him  that  he  had  better  return  with  us,  so  he  gathered  up  his 
"  clothes  and  blankets  and  made  ready  to  accompany  us. 

"  Our  troops  now  started  back.  My  position,  in'  consequence 
"  of  having  looked  after  the  comfort  of  a  couple  of  large  turkeys 
"  on  the  plantation,  was  in  the  rear  of  our  retreating  army. 
"  The  negro  had  accumulated  his  duds  and  started  with  us,  when, 
'•  looking  around,  there  came  his  wife  and  two  children.  He  saw 
"  them  and  halted.  I  stopped  my  horse  to  see  the  result,  for  I 
"  was  interested.  I  desired  to  see  which  the  black  man  loved  the 
'•  most — the  prospect  of  gaining  his  liberty,  or  his  wife  and  babies. 
'•  She  came  up  to  him,  and  he  said  to  her,  'Mary,  I's  gwine  for 
"'to  leab  you!'  She  looked  thunderstruck,  and  inquired  where 


ARRIVAL    OF    THE    PAYMASTER.  311 

"  he  was  going.  He  said  he  was  going  with  the  Northern  army 
'•  and  be  free.  She  replied,  'You'  shan't !'  He  asked  me  if  she 
"  could  go.  T  said  yes.  He  informed  her,  but  she  instantly 
'•  replied,  'DeLord!  I  can't  go  and  leab  massa  and  dese  chil- 
ulens.'  The  man  looked  troubled.  The  children  came  up  to 
"  him  and  called  him  father.  I  did  not  say  a  word,  but  sat  on 
"  my  horse  watching  events.  Our  brigade  moved  forward,  and  T 
"followed.  I  looked  behind  me;  the  negro  was  coming,  and  a 
"  short  distance  behind  him,  in  the  road,  stood  his  wife  and  child- 
"ren,  watching  the  husband  and  father  deserting  them.  He 
''looked  behind  him  frequently,  and  I  could  see  his  broad  black 
4i  chest  heave,  and  hear  him  sigh.  I  pitied  him,  and  thought  he 
<;  felt  and  acted  as  I  did  when  I  left  my  home,  wife  and  baby,  and 
li  followed.  In  a  word,  he  acted  like  a  man — a  human  being.  I 
"  hated  to  see  the  fellow  leave  his  wife  and  children.  But  she 
"  declared  she  would  not  leave  the  children.  I  thought,  what 
"will  she  do  when  the  auctioneer  comes?" 

The  following  week  had  two  special  incidents,  which  attracted 
much  attention — the  coming  of  the  paymaster  on  the  3rd  of  Dec., 
which  had  put  the  boys  in  excellent  humor,  and  the  eclipse  of  the 
moon  on  the  night  of  the  15th,  which  was  very  fine.  Our  meetings 
continued,  and  additional  evening  meetings  were  held  for  the 
study  of  the  Bible,  so  that  I  had  some  kind  of  service  almost 
every  night. 

On  the  9th  we  had  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's 
notice,  without  teams,  and  after  dinner  firing  was  heard  and  the 
long  roll  sounded.  The  troops  went  out  about  half  a  mile  and 
were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  waiting  for  an  attack,  but  noth 
ing  came  of  it  and  at  night  we  returned  to  camp.  Next  day  we 
moved  back  toward  Nashville  and  went  into  camp  in  a  beautiful 
grove  on  Mill  Creek, 'remaining  here  at  "  Camp  Sheridan  "  until 


312  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

we  marched  out  to  Stone  River,  Friday,  the  26th  The  boys 
have  always  been  fond  of  talking  of  the  camp  on  Mill  Creek  ;  it 
was  the  last  encampment  in  which  many  of  us  were  together.  Here 
the  daily  drills,  the  picket  and  forage  duties  continued,  mingled 
with  rides  and  trips  to  Nashville.  Our  brigade,  under  command 
of  Col.  Sherman,  of  the  88th  Regiment,  made  a  short  foraging 
detour  into  the  disputed  territory.  They  were  gone  three  days, 
and  then  returned  with  two  hundred  and  forty-seven  wagon-loads 
of  forage  and  produce,  besides  numerous  horses,  mules,  hogs, 
sheep  and  milch  cows — all  secured  from  undo'ubted  secessionists. 
Somewhere  about  this  time  a  slaughtered  hog  was  found  hung 
very  near  my  tent,  one  Sunday  morning,  waiting,  no  doubt,  to 
be  cut  up.  The  owners  got  up  a  little  pleasant  fun  on  the  parson 
for  such  a  sight,  but  the  hospital  tent  was  too  near  to  turn  any 
one  off  the  true  to  a  false  sbent. 

Friday,  Dec.  12,  Brig.  Gen.  Sill  being  appointed  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  brigade,  Col.  Greusel  returned  to  the  command  of 
the  regiment  and  met  a  hearty  welcome.  As  in  a  few  days  after 
this  the  condition  of  the  regiment  was  entirely  changed  by  the 
battle,  this  is  the  best  place  to  insert  a  brief  summary  of  facts 
about  it  collected  and  printed  at  this  time.  "  We  left  camp  Ham 
mond,  Aurora,  Kane  County,  Illinois,  on  Tuesday  afternoon, 
"Sept.  24,  1861,  with  1,183  men.  The  regiment  has  been  in 
"  the  service  fifteen  months  ;  marched  2,800  miles — five  hundred 
"  and  twenty  miles  by  steamboat,  ten  hundred  and  nineteen  by 
"railroad  and  twelve  hundred  and  sixty-one  on  foot.  We  have 
"  done  military  duty  in  five  Southern  states — Missouri,  Arkan- 
"sas,  Mississippi,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  besides  traveling 
"  extensively  in  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Ohio-  We  have  been  in  four 
"  severe  battles — Pea  Ridge,  March  6th,  7th  and  8th  ;  Company 
"A  Cavalry  at  luka,  Corinth,  Sept.,  and  tfye  regiment  at  Chap- 


A   KBSUME    OF   THE   REGIMENT.  313 

"lin  Hill,  near  Perry ville,  Kentucky,  Oct.  8th,  1862.  We  have 
"had  twenty-eight  men  and  two  commissioned  officers  killed  in 
"  battle  and  died  of  their  wounds.  Twenty-two  men  have  died 
"in  our  regimental  hospital,  under  care  of  our  own  surgeons  and 
"  nurses ;  sixteen  have  died  in  general  and  post  hospitals ; 
"three  have  died  at  home,  while  absent  from  the  regiment  on 
"furlough,  making  the  total  deaths  in  the  regiment  from  all 
"  causes,  since  it  left  Aurora,  sixty-nine.  Twenty- three  commis- 
"  sioned  officers  have  resigned  or  been  dismissed  from  the  ser- 
"  vice.  One  commissioned  officer  has  died  from  disease,  and  two 
"  from  wounds  received  in  battle.  Thirty-eight  privates  have 
"  been  discharged  from  service  by  our  regimental  surgeons  on 
"account  of  disability.  Forty -three  have  been  discharged  by 
"  general  orders  and  post  surgeons  while  absent  from  the  regi- 
"  ment.  Twenty-three  were  mustered  out  of  service  as  a  Band. 
"  Nine  have  been  discharged  on  account  of  promotion  to  offices 
"in  other  regiments.  Thirty-one  have  deserted,  and  ought  to  be 
"  shot.  Twenty-three  new  recruits  have  joined  since  the  organ- 
"  ization  of  the  regiment — leaving  967  men  now  belonging  to 
"  the  regiment  and  doing  duty.  Our  division  is  composed  of 
"  twelve  regiments — four  old  ones  and  eight  new  ones,  yet  our 
"  regiment  draws  rations  for  more  men  than  any  other  regiment 
"in  the  division.  We  have  one  man  sick  in  the  regimental  hos- 
"  pital  to-day.  The  following  figures  show  this  morning's  brigade 
"  report  of  sick  in  general  hospital.  The  brigade  is  composed  of 
"  four  regiments,  and  the  following  are  their  figures  :  36th  Illi- 
"  nois  has  thirty-six  men  in  general  hospital,  most  of  whom  are  the 
"  wounded  of  the  Perryville  fight.  The  88th  Illinois  has  one 
"  hundred  and  thirty-four  men  in  general  hospital ;  the  24th 
;'  Wisconsin  has  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  men  in  general  hos- 
"  pital,  and  21st  Michigan  one  hundred  and  twenty  men  in  same," 

21 


314  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

While  camped  at  Mill  Creek,  south  of  Nashville,  Peter  Pelican 
was  detailed  as  orderly  for  Col.  Greusel.  His  special  duty  was 
that  of  mail  carrier  to  and  from  Nashville.  Peter  was  constitu 
tionally  thirsty,  and  the  poor  water  of  the  South  not  always 
agreeable,  so  on  his  frequent  visits  to  Nashville  he  generally  par 
took  more  or  less  of  the  ardent.  One  time,  while  in  a  state  of 
semi-unconsciousness,  his  horse  was  stolen,  with  saddle,  bridle 
and  equipments.  It  was  said  Peter's  reputation  for  veracity  was 
not  of  a  high  order,  and  on  his  return  to  camp  he  stated,  in  his 
half  French  manner,  that  while  in  the  post  office  waiting  for  his 
mail — sober,  of  course — some  one  had  stolen  his  horse.  Col. 
Greusel  furnished  him  a  pass,  and  ordered  him  to  hunt  the  horse 
and  not  come  back  without  him.  Peter  left  on  foot,  and  nothing 
was  seen  or  heard  of  him  for  some  time.  At  length  Major  Miller 
found  him  in  Nashville,  keeping  a  grog  shop,  and  caused  his 
arrest  and  trial  for  desertion.  The  case  was  apparently  a  clear 
one,  and  Peter  was  asked  what  he  had  to  oifer  in  defence.  Judge 
of  the  consternation  of  Col.  Greusel  and  the  officers  present, 
when  he  pulled  out  of  his  pocket  the  Colonel's  pass,  and  stated 
that  he  had  not  yet  been  able  to  find  the  horse  and  hence  had 
not  returned.  Peter  was  cleared,  of  course. 

It  was  at  this  camp  the  troops  were  furnished  with  the  "shel 
ter  tent,"  which  became  a  treasure  to  the  men  when  they  under 
stood  its  value,  but  at  first  its  appearance  was  almost  a  signal  for 
rebellion.  The  journals  express  the  prevailing  feeling  perfectly  : 
"  In  the  afternoon  the  new  'shelter  tents'  came,  and  caused  con- 
"siderable  excitement.  The  boys  all  declare  they  wont  take 
"  them,  and  I  am  sure  I  don't  blame  them  in  the  least — they  are 
"  an  imposition."  Another  says :  "  An  attempt  was  made  to-day 
"to  furnish  the  brigade  with  the  'shelter  tent,'  a  miserable. 
"  coarse  muslin  thing,  to  be  occupied  by  two  men,  and  carried 


ON   PICKET    IN    THE    ADVANCE.  315 

"  on  the  back  ;  but  the  men  came  out  in  a  body  and  refused  to 
"  take  them,  declaring  that  if  they  had  to,  they  would  burn 
"  them.  The  officer  thought  discretion  the  better  part  of  valor, 
"and  did  not  force  the  matter." 

On  the  16th,  the  regiment  was  on  picket  in  advance,  the  Rebels 
in  sight.  In  the  afternoon  another  regiment  took  our  place, 
while  we  went  out  two  miles  on  a  reconnoissance.  Pickets  ran 
as  we  advanced.  On  Sunday,  14th,  we  had  a  most  excellent 
service  in  the  morning,  and  then  Jep.  Denison,Hop.  Steward  and 
I  rode  over  to  Gen.  Davis'  head-quarters  to  visit  Company  B 
Cavalry.  We  were  very  kindly  received  by  Capt.  Sherer  and 
his  men.  I  distributed  papers  among  them  and  afterward  preached. 
They  expressed  great  gratitude  for  the  service,  which  was  the 
first  they  had  had.  One  man  expressed  his  feelings  by  giving 
me  a  cane  which  he  had  been  making,  with  great  care,  out  of 
cedar  and  inlaid  very  ingeniously  with  ivory  devices.  I  sent  it 
home,  and  preserve  it  yet  as  a  memento  of  that  Sunday.  On 
our  return  we  had  a  large  attendance  at  evening  meeting,  and  a 
number  had  to  go  away.  I  counted  forty  inside  the  tent.  On 
the  17th,  I  was  requested,  on  behalf  of  Company  B.  to  present 
Lieut.  P.  Douglas  with  sword,  sash  and  shoulder  straps,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  promotion.  We  had  an  interesting  time.  The 
rest  of  the  time  until  our  march  to  Stone  river,  on  the  26th,  was 
occupied  with  the  usual  dress  parades,  skirmish  and  brigade 
drill,  picket  and  forage  duty.  On  the  21st  we  had  service  at 
three  o'clock  p.  M.  By  this  time  we  were  in  the  habit  of  draw 
ing  attendance  from  other  regiments,  and  had  a  large  concourse, 
quite  as  many  as  I  could  address  comfortably.  The  accumulated 
influence  of  religious  services  for  weeks  had  produced  in  the 
minds  of  many  men  unusual  tenderness,  and  when  our  service 
closed  it  was  with  such  a  subdued  and  solemn  feeling  that  the 


316  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

vast  crowd  seemed  to  disperse  in  almost  entire  silence.  It  was 
the  last  sermon  that  many  a  man  heard.  Was  it  the  shadow  of 
coming  events  that  rested  that  afternoon  upon  us  ? 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

BATTLE  OF  STONE  RIVER. 

¥ 

{[O  ON  after  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  I  wrote  out 
for  a  Chicago  paper  a  full  account  of  what  I  saw 
and  heard  during  those  eventful  days,  It  had 
a  large  circulation,  was  read  and  commented 
upon  by  officers  and  men  at  the  time,  and  may, 
therefore,  be  regarded  as  even  more  strictly  cor- 

TQT 

rect  than  any  that  could  now  be  written  from  memory.  I  therefore 
reprint  it,  with  only  such  verbal  changes  as  the  nature  of  the 
case  demands.  The  personal  character  of  the  narrative  has  to 
be  retained,  and  I  know  not  how  to  help  it. 

MILL  CREEK,          ) 
NEAR  NASHVILLE,  TENN.      j 

Thursday,  Dec.  25th,  1862.— Rose  at  six  o'clock.  Under 
orders  to  march.  After  breakfast,  ordered  to  pitch  our  tents  as 
before,  and  make  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  possible.  Regi 
ments  came  in  from  picket  and  everything  looked  as  before  we 
broke  up  yesterday.  This  is  Christmas  Day.  and  Santa  Claus 


ARRIVAL  OF  SHELTER  TENTS.  317 

has  not  come,  unless  he  visited  the  little  ones  at  home.  Would 
give  a  good  deal  to  be  at  home  to-day.  Received  a  copy  of 
Army  Regulations  from  the  Adjutant.  Heavy  musketry  heard 
out  on  the  lines.  Rumors  that  we  leave  to-morrow  ;  89th  and 
the  battery  are  under  orders;  ours  have  not  yet  come.  Even 
ing  Bible  Class;  subject,  Almsgiving  in  Sermon  on  the  Mount; 
very  interesting. 

Friday,  26th. — Called  at  six,  with  orders  to  march  at  seven  ; 
all  is  hurry  and  confusion.  The  shelter  tents  were  issued  ;  the 
men  had  threatened  they  would  not  receive  them,  considering  it 
an  imposition  to  have  them  substituted  for  regular  tents.  A 
shelter  tent  is  composed  of  two  sheets  of  cotton,  which  being  but 
toned  together  and  propped  with  stakes,  makes  a  tent  of  the 
shape  of  a  house  roof,  under  which  two  men  can  lie ;  being  only 
four  feet  high  of  course  cannot  be  used  for  permanent  encamp 
ment.  They  are  generally  designed  for  march,  to  lessen  the 
baggage  train,  it  being  intended  that  wherever  the  army  remains 
awhile  they  should  have  the  large  tents.  This  morning  many 
refused  them,  preferring  to  be  without  any,  as  all  the  large  tents 
were  ordered  back  to  Nashville.  I  had  my  tent,  trunk  and  stove 
packed  on  the  head-quarters  wagon,  so  as  to  be  provided  for,  but 
by  a  misunderstanding  which  it  was  too  late  to  correct  when  I 
learned  it,  they  were  carried  back  to  Nashville,  so  that  I  had 
nothing  but  what  was  carried  on  the  horse  and  in  Henry's  knap 
sack.  We  supposed,  however,  that  we  should  probably  be  back 
next  day,  as  it  was  reported  that  we  were  going  to  capture  a  force 
that  had  ventured  too  near  our  lines.  We  had  not  gone  far 
before  it  was  evident  to  all  that  this  was  a  movement  in  force — 
Johnson's  Division  filing  in  from  the  other  pike  on  to  our  rear, 
and  Davis  going  by  another  road,  while  Crittenden  and  Thomas 
were  advancing  in  another  direction.  It  became  a  certainty  that 


318  THIRTY-SIXTII    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

we  wore  now  advancing  on  the  enemy,  and  were  about  to  have 
war  in  earnest.  It  was  at  this  time  that  I  found  my  tent,  trunk, 
&c.,  had  been  left  behind. 

We  had  not  gone  far  before  it  began  to  rain,  and  soon  to  pour, 
making  the  road  tedious  to  the  men.  We  were  shortly  turned 
off  the  pike  to  go  round  a  creek  by  a  circuitous  route,  as  it  was 
expected  that  some  fortifications  had  been  erected  there.  A 
negro  was  engaged  as  a  guide,  who,  misunderstanding  the  Gen 
eral's  orders,  took  us  the  wrong  way  ;  so  after  wading  and  slip 
ping  through  the  mud,  the  artillery  cutting  deep  ruts,  we  had  to 
return  and  seek  another  track,  very  much  to  the  annoyance  of 
the  officers  and  the  disgust  of  the  men.  Many  remarks  were 
made  anything  but  complimentary  to  "  reliable  contrabands." 
The  skirmishers  soon  came  upon  a  band  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
and  a  brisk  firing  was  kept  up  for  some  time.  Our  regiment 
being  on  the  advance,  we  were  very  near.  Our  skirmishers  were 
very  much  exhausted  by  tramping  through  the  muddy  corn  and 
cotton-fields  and  trailing  through  the  brush. 

Having  successfully  crossed  the  creek,  we  again  came  upon  the 
pike,  to  find  that  Davis'  Division,  which  was  behind  us,  had 
gone  on  to  Nolansville  before  us,  in  consequence  of  our  delay  in 
finding  the  right  road.  Davis  is  a  fighting  man — the  same  that 
shot  Gen.  Nelson — and  we  soon  heard  by  the  cannonade  that  he 
had  come  up  with  a  body  of  the  enemy.  After  a  little  delay  we 
entered  Nolansville,  a  dirty,  dilapidated  place  of  from  fifty  to 
one  hundred  houses.  One  shell  from  a  secesh  battery  had 
entered  a  house  and  exploded  in  it.  Here  our  boys  bought  some 
butter  and  apples,  the  people  preferring  Confederate  money  to 
greenbacks,  which  is  the  case  through  all  this  region.  We  soon 
heard  still  heavier  cannonading,  and  as  we  advanced,  the  signs  of 
a  fight  became  thick  and  strong.  All  was  excitement,  and  but 


A   SOAKING   NIGHT.  319 

for  being  in  the  way,  I  should  have  ridden  forward  to  see  what 
was  being  done.  We  halted  for  a  time  opposite  a  house  where 
there  was  a  large  number  of  negroes — the  owner  having  a  negress 
for  a  wife. 

After  a  while  the  firing  ceased,  our  Generals  returned  and 
ordered  us  into  camp  in  an  orchard  opposite.  One  of  our  regi 
ments  had  made  a  charge  on  a  battery  and  captured  one  gun. 
One  man  was  killed  and  thirteen  wounded ;  two  more  died  the 
next  day.  The  enemy  had  fled  toward  Triune,  where  we  expected 
to  find  a  heavy  force  within  fortifications,  and  it  seemed  that 
to-morrow  we  must  have  a  general  engagement. 

The  ground  was  thoroughly  drenched  with  rain,  and  my 
prospects  were  anything  but  flattering,  my  tent  having  been  left 
behind.  The  boys  began  to  put  up  their  shelter  tents,  and  then 
it  appeared  as  though  those  who  had  refused  them  were  not  wise. 
The  Major  kindly  invited  me  to  sleep  in  his  tent  which  I  gladly 
accepted.  During  the  night  the  rain  began  to  pour  down  in 
torrents,  and  it  was  sad  to  think  that  so  many  of  our  boys  were 
sleeping  out  in  their  blankets,  and  must  inevitably  be  made  sick. 

My  sympathies  for  them  began  to  seek  a  new  channel,  for  the 
tent  being  on  a  side  hill  and  the  men  having  neglected  to  trench 
it — as  a  tent  needs  in  a  rain  storm — the  water  began  to  pour 
into  the  tent,  wetting  our  blankets,  causing  us  to  draw  up  our 
feet  to  keep  them  out  of  the  water.  Blankets  once  wet  require 
a  good  deal  of  drying,  so  that  altogether  this  was  a  little  the 
hardest  soldiering  I  had  had. 

Saturday,  27th. — Rose  at  six  o'clock ;  somewhat  blue.  The 
rain  had  stopped,  and  things  did  not  look  so  gloomy  as  I  had 
anticipated.  One  thing,  however,  this  rain  had  done,  converted 
most  of  the  boys  into  friends  of  the  shelter  tent.  The  much 
abused  thing  became  a  real  favorite,  for  those  who  had  taken  care 


320  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

to  put  them  up  properly  were  kept  securely  from  the  rain,   and 
the  story  that  they  would  not  shed  water  was  entirely  disproved. 

Our  camp  had  been  upon  the  side  hill ;  on  a  high  hill  in  the 
distance  was  Davis'  Division,  while  still  others  were  camped  in 
the  rear.  When  all  these  had  their  fires  lighted  at  night  it  was 
an  exceedingly  brilliant  and  gorgeous  sight.  After  breakfast, 
learning  that  Johnson's  Division  was  to  go  ahead  of  us,  I  went 
down  to  the  road  and  waited  nearly  two  hours  for  the  89th  to 
pass.  It  was  a  grand  sight  to  see  such  masses  of  men  move  on, 
accompanied  by  such  trains  of  artillery,  and  gave  me  a  better 
idea  of  the  size  and  thorough  equipment  of  the  army  than  I  have 
ever  had  before.  Ah,  me,  how  many  of  these  strong  and  hearty 
fellows  are  going,  never  to  return  !  Gen.  McCook,  Gen.  Davis, 
Gen.  Sheridan  and  Gen.  Sill  were  all  together.  When  John 
son's  Division  had  passed,  Sheridan's  started.  We  were  in  the 
second  brigade.  Soon  we  heard  heavy  firing,  and  knew  that  our 
advance  had  come  up  with  the  enemy.  At  a  large,  brick  house, 
on  top  of  a  hill,  where  it  was  said  Gen.  Hardee  had  stayed  the 
night  before,  I  had  a  sight  of  the  spot  about  one  and  a- half  mile 
ahead,  where  our  batteries  were  planted.  When  we  had  marched 
some  three  miles  and  were  about  three  from  Triune,  the  order 
came  to  gather  all  the  ambulances  in  a  field.  The  prisoners 
taken  said  the  enemy  were  in  force  at  Triune,  and  our  Generals 
were  going  to  make  an  immediate  attack.  The  order  was  that 
the  wounded  were  not  to  be  carried  off  the  field  until  the  battle 
was  over. 

The  surgeons  were  to  go  on  to  the  field  with  such  light  appli 
ances  as  they  could  carry.  We — the  surgeons  and  myself — put 
everything  in  order,  took  the  stretchers — a  kind  of  hand  mat 
tress  on  which  wounded  men  were  carried — ate  our  turkey  and 
started  after  the  troops,  with  the  full  expectation  of  an  immedi- 


THE   ADVANCE    ON   TRIUNE.  821 

ate  and  bloody  battle.  At  a  little  distance  forward  we  turned 
from  the  road  and  traversed  the  fields.  The  rain,  too,  began  to 
fall  again,  and  this  time  in  heavy  torrents.  We  came  up  with 
the  regiment  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  while  yet  other  lines 
were  in  advance  of  us,  on  knolls  of  ground,  reaching  nearer  and 
nearer  Triune.  Soon  those  in  advance  moved  forward,  one  after 
the  other,  and  we  took  their  places.  Thus  the  whole  army 
advanced  upon  Triune.  To  wade  through  the  almost  liquid  corn 
field  was  work  indeed.  Artillery  were  dragged  back  and  forth, 
arid  when  our  men  came  to  cross  their  track  it  seemed  as  though 
they  would  sink.  I  could  not  but  think  how  little  the  people  at 
home,  who  so  many  of  them  sit  at  their  ease  and  find  fault  with 
the  army,  conceive  of  the  real  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life.  And 
yet  the  cheerfulness  of  the  36th  was  neither  washed  away  in  the 
rain  above,  nor  buried  in  the  mud  beneath.  They  were  full  of 
life  and  pleasantry,  and  now  and  then,  when  the  mud  was  deeper 
and  the  marching  harder  than  usual,  one  and  another  would  say, 
"  This  is  all  for  the  old  Flag  ;"  while  one  more  poetical  in  his 
style  than  the  rest,  exclaimed,  4k  0,  my  country,  how  much  do  I 
suffer  for  thee!"  The  lines  were  brought  nearer  to  the  enemy, 
while  we  strained  our  eyes  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  them  in  the 
distance.  u  Is  it  not  strange,"  said  I,  "that  we  have  to  fight 
men  we  have  never  seen,  and  cannot  even  now  see  ?" 

Soon  the  intelligence  was  brought  that  our  Generals  had  again 
been  misled  by  false  information.  Our  cavalry  had  entered  the 
town,  and  no  enemy  was  to  be  found ;  what  force  they  had,  had 
retired  towards  Murfreesborough,  and  we  were  ordered  into  camp 
right  where  we  were.  But  our  condition  was  forlorn  enough — 
all  wet  and  chilled.  We  sent  for  the  ambulances  and  hospital 
wagons,  put  up  the  large  tents,  lighted  fires  and  tried  to  dry  our 
selves.  After  awhile,  supper  was  ready ;  we  had  both  poached 


322  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

eggs  and  butter — strong,  but  still  butter.  After  supper,  what 
should  be  brought  in  but  a  letter  from  home,  the  one  I  had 
been  expecting  on  Thursday.  This  was  refreshing  indeed,  after 
such  a  tedious  and  harassing  march.  In  it  was  a  Santa  Glaus' 
present,  which  was  very  acceptable,  and  was  much  praised  by 
those  who  happened  to  be  in  the  tent  at  the  time,  and  who 
claimed  a  sight  of  it.  To  me  it  appeared  one  of  the  prettiest 
morsels  I  had  ever  had,  so  appropriate,  so  ingenious,  and  so  red 
olent  of  home  affections  and  joys.  God  bless  and  preserve  "the 
loved  ones  at  home."  Prepared  to  sleep  in  the  large  hospital 
tent ;  our  blankets  were  damp,  but  there  was  no  help  for  it,  so 
we  lay  down  to  sleep,  grateful  that  things  were  no  worse.  It  is 
astonishing  how  a  man  will  become  accustomed  to  inconvenience 
and  discomfort  until  he  scarcely  notices  them. 

Sunday,  Dec.  28th. — Rose  at  7  o'clock.  Blankets  still  damp. 
The  morning  was  bright  and  beautiful,  crisp  and  frosty.  We 
lay  round  for  some  time  expecting  orders  to  march ;  but  as  they  did 
not  come  I  began  to  think  that  perhaps  our  Generals  were  going 
to  obey  the  President's  order  about  the  Sabbath.  A  man  from 
the  2'2nd  Illinois  came  over  to  see  at  what  hour  we  intended  to 
have  service,  as  some  of  that  regiment  desired  to  attend,  they 
being  without  a  Chaplain.  Promised  to  send  them  word  when 
the  hour  was  fixed.  Col.  Greusel  appointed  three  o'clock,  pro 
vided  we  did  not  move. 

Abundance  of  provisions  were  found  in  the  neighborhood — 
pork,  beef,  apples,  &c. — and  each  company  had  men  out  to  pro 
cure  what  was  needed.  A  large  quantity  of  fine  pork  in  salt  was 
found  which  looked  as  if  prepared  for  the  secesh  army.  Each 
mess  secured  a  share.  Blankets,  clothes,  &c.,  were  hung  up  in 
every  direction  to  be  dried  in  the  sun,  and  there  was  every  pros 
pect  that  a  day's  rest  would  prepare  the  men  for  a  march  to-mor- 


SUNDAY    SERVICES    IN    CAMP.  323 

row.  In  the  midst  of  all  this  confusion  I  sat  outside  and  drew 
out  a  sketch  for  a  sermon.  I  had  neither  Bible  nor  Testament, 
nor  manuscript  of  any  kind,  all  being  left  behind  in  my  trunk. 
About  one  o'clock  I  went  over  to  the  22nd  Illinois,  and  informed 
them  about  service.  Some  of  them  came  over,  and  after  the 
battle  I  found  one  of  them  among  the  wounded.  At  three  o'clock 
had  service — a  large  attendance.  Text,  "  My  word  have  I  hid 
in  my  heart  that  I  sin  not  against  thee." 

Prayer-meeting  in  the  evening  in  the  large  hospital  tent ; 
thirty-five  present.  Slept  in  tent  with  dry  blankets,  anticipat 
ing  an  early  start,  and  a  march  on  the  enemy  to-morrow, 

Monday,  29th. — Called  at  half-past  four  o'clock  ;  lay  quiet 
till  daylight  waiting  orders.  Company  A  had  procured  a  seccsh 
tent,  which  they  lent  to  me  until  I  shall  receive  my  own.  Had 
it  put  on  the  head-quarters  wagon.  Marched  about  sunrise,  but 
much  disappointed  to  be  turned  back  as  though  we  were  return 
ing  to  Nashville,  and  it  seemed  for  a  moment  that  we  had  failed 
in  our  expedition.  We  soon  found  that  we  were  only  going  back 
a  short  distance  to  take  a  cross  road  to  Murfreesborough,  which 
was  now  our  declared  destination.  It  was  reported  that  Critten 
den  had  taken  Murfreesborough;  and  again  that  he  had  found 
unexpected  opposition,  and  that  we  were  to  reinforce  him. 

This  being  a  cross  road  and  riot  a  regular  turnpike — which  are 
excellent  for  a  marching  army,  both  men,  wagons  and  artillery — 
our  progress  was  slow,  many  portions  very  rocky,  and  others 
equally  muddy,  and  all  very  bad  for  an  army.  But  the  country 
itself  presented  many  interesting  features  to  an  attentive  observer. 
One  view  was  especially  noteworthy.  We  emerged  from  the 
timber  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  from  which  there  was  an  uninter 
rupted  prospect  of  the  country  for  many  miles.  Right  beneath 
us  was  a  belt  of  open  farm  land  extending,  perhaps,  one  or  two 


324  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

miles  across,  then  an  extensive  cedar  grove,  while  beyond  it 
another  belt  of  open  country,  with  timber  still  beyond  that. 
Through  the  first  open  land  was  gliding  like  some  cobra  di  ca- 
pello,  or — to  adopt  the  Potomac  name — "  anaconda,"  a  portion 
of  our  column,  while  the  advance  could  be  detected  winding 
through  the  first  grove,  by  the  gleaming  of  arms  as  the  light 
glanced  upon  them.  But  another  use  could  be  made  of  this  hill 
besides  affording  beautiful  and  enchanting  prospects.  About 
three  miles  distant,  and  a  little  to  the  right,  was  another  high 
eminence,  from  which,  with  a  good  glass,  an  observer  might 
count  every  regiment  and  battery  as  it  descended  to  the  plain, 
and  thus  form  a  judgment  sufficiently  accurate  for  practical  pur 
poses,  of  the  strength  of  this  portion  of  the  army  of  the  Cum 
berland. 

In  pursuing  our  journey  we  had  many  tedious  halts,  caused 
in  part  by  the  difficulty  of  dragging  artillery  over  such  rough 
roads.  At  one  spot  on  the  banks  of  a  creek,  we  halted  for  a 
considerable  time  until  other  troops  could  form  a  junction  with 
us,  it  not  being  considered  safe  to  make  the  flank  movement  of 
to-day  without  having  the  columns  within  supporting  distance  of 
each  other.  Indeed  the  place  where  we  halted  would  have  been 
a  hard  place  to  be  attacked  in,  and  so  evidently  thought  our 
Generals,  for  they  ordered  all  fires  to  be  put  out,  that  there  might 
be  no  sign  by  which  an  enemy  at  a  distance  could  detect  our 
presence. 

We  passed  through  several  immense  cedar  groves.  The  cedar, 
when  as  large  as  in  these  groves,  loses  a  great  portion  of  its 
beauty,  not  appearing  bushy  as  when  cultivated,  but  a  huge,  bare 
pole.  One  peculiarity  of  these  groves  is  that  instead  of  soil 
there  is  very  little  besides  immense  rocks,  almost  making  one 
wonder  where  the  roots  find  nourishment,  many  of  them  being 


A    CONFLICT    IMPENDING.  325 

imbedded  in  solid  rock.  In  many  places  it  was  difficult  to  ride 
even  on  horseback,  the  track  very  much  resembling  broken, 
slippery,  uneven  steps,  with  winding  passages  between  the  rocks, 
which  were  not  a  little  suggestive  of  "  Fatman's  Misery,"  in  the 
Mammoth  Cave,  though,  of  course,  considerably  wider.  But 
the  most  unpleasant  days  have  an  end,  and  so  have  roads.  Bye- 
and-by  we  came  upon  the  fine  rolling  country  which  is  the 
glory  of  Tennessee,  through  which  her  beautiful  pikes  run,  arid 
in  which  her  vast  plantations  and  stately  residences  are  located. 
We  passed  Davis'  Division  already  going  into  camp,  while  we 
were  ordered  forward  about  a  mile.  On  our  way  we  began  to 
feel  that  the  air  was  heavy  with  rumors  and  premonitions  of  the 
coming  conflict. 

During  the  afternoon  a  portion  of  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  out 
skirmishing,  had  been  drawn  into  a  trap,  and  before  they  could 
escape,  about  thirty  were  killed  and  a  large  number  wounded. 
This  was  enough  to  convince  us  all  that  war  is  not  a  thing  of 
parades  and  shows,  but  a  stem  and  cruel  reality.  A  number  of 
negroes  by  the  roadside  had  built  a  fire  of  rails.  Gen.  McCook 
rode  along,  and  in  no  very  complimentary  style  ordered  them  to 
put  it  out.  We  marched  down  the  Wilkinson  pike  and  were 
ordered  into  a  cornfield,  the  regiment  preserving  a  line  of  battle 
behind  a  rail  fence,  but  forbidden  to  build  fires,  or  pitch  tents,  or 
speak  loudly,  or  do  anything  which  could  reveal  our  presence  to 
the  enemy's  pickets.  The  only  indulgence  granted  was  to  gather 
the  cornstalks  for  bedding,  that  we  might  not  lie  in  pure  mud. 
The  whole  brigade  and  a  battery  were  together  and  the  rest  of 
Sheridan's  Division  close  by.  The  ambulances  and  hospital 
wagon — to  which  I  was  to  look  for  whatever  comfort  I  was  to 
have — had  been  taken  into  a  clean  field  of  grass  and  trees,  a 
little  back  on  the  pike  and  on  the  opposite  side. 


326  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

We  had  just  begun  to  unpack  and  to  congratulate  ourselves 
that  we  had  so  pleasant  a  spot  where  we  could  spread  our  blank 
ets  on  clean  ground  and  under  the  trees,  when  an  order  came  for 
the  ambulances,  &c.,  to  be  all  removed  half  a  mile  back.  So  off 
we  started  arid  found  that  another  muddy  cornfield  had  been 
selected,  and  that  all  the  ambulances,  &c.,  of  the  division  were 
to  be  brought  together.  I  confess  the  prospect  was  gloomy  ;  no 
fire,  consequently  no  coffee.  It  was  already  seven  o'clock,  cloudy 
and  threatening  rain.  But  there  was  no  help  for  it  We  ate  a 
supper  of  cold  beans,  pork  and  crackers,  drinking  water.  Now 
the  bed.  Had  we  desired  to  be  imbedded,  AVC  could  have  had  our 
wisli  without  a  moment's  difficulty.  After  discussing  the  ques 
tion,  decided  to  make  our  bed  under  the  ambulance.  We  plucked 
cornstalks  sufficient — small  stakes  would  have  made  a  good  sub 
stitute — on  them  we  spread  our  blankets,  and  then  with  great 
difficulty  took  off  our  clothes,  which  had  to  be  done  under  the 
ambulance,  our  heads  knocking  against  hooks  and  axletrees,  all 
outside  being  soft  mud  of  the  clay  family,  and  stretched  our 
selves  for  sleep. 

Soon  a  new  difficulty  arose.  No  less  than  five  horses  were 
tied  to  the  ambulance,  while  at  something  less  than  two  horses' 
lengths  off  was  the  hospital  wagon,  to  which  were  attached  six 
mules.  Not  content  with  making  their  usual  noises,  which, 
while  insufferable  to  a  citizen,  are  not  supposed  to  be  even  heard 
by  a  soldier,  the  horse  tied  to  the  wheel  close  by  my  head,  per 
sisted  in  taking  his  hind  feet  too  near  the  mules,  and  a  general 
kicking  and  yelping,  together  with  the  violent  jerking  of  the 
ambulance,  were  the  consequence.  This  was  partly  remedied  by 
one  of  our  hospital  mess,  who  had  not  yet  "retired" — if  the  term 
is  allowable  in  circumstances  suggestive  of  anything  but  retire 
ment.  But  straightway  there  came  another  unlocked  for  dis- 


A    CORNSTALK    BED.  327 

turbance.  The  horses  had  by  this  time  pretty  well  eaten  up  their 
cornstalks — all  the  forage  we  could  obtain  for  them — and  in  their 
eagerness  for  more  they  began  to  pick  and  pull  at  the  ends  of 
the  stalks  composing  our  bed.  In  addition,  the  same  horse, 
thinking  it  a  good  and  appropriate  act,  laid  down  in  the  mud  for 
a  good  roll,  by  which  he  succeeded  in  fastening  his  hind  legs  in 
the  wagon  wheel ;  and  finally,  as  if  by  one  great  annoyance  to 
make  us  forget  a  great  many  small  ones,  the  threatened  rain 
began  to  fall,  giving  us  the  prospect  of  a  thorough  wetting.  It 
was  now  necessary  to  rise — slowly,  carefully,  amid  the  hooks  and 
axletrees — and  spread  my  poncho  over  us,  and  feeling  that  we 
had  done  all  that  imperfect  human  beings  could  do  to  make  the 
best  of  our  situation,  we  strove  hard  to  sleep,  rocked  by  the 
jerking  ambulance  and  lulled  by  the  pattering  rain.  After  sun 
dry  efforts  to  make  our  bones  fit  between  the  cornstalks,  and 
with  thoughts  of  home,  the  events  of  the  past  day,  the  strange 
forebodings  of  the  morrow  all  mingling  confusedly  in  our  minds, 
"tired  nature's  sweet  restorer,  balmy  sleep,"  dropped  his  mild 
influence  on  our  eyelids  and  bade  us  rest ;  and  but  for  an  occa 
sional  pull  by  the  horses  at  the  cornstalks  under  us,  or  the 
blankets  over  us,  the  remainder  of  the  night  we  were  undisturbed. 
Tuesday,  Dec.  3Qth. — Rose  about  half-past  six.  It  was  quite 
a  feat  to  pull  on  one's  boots  under  the  ambulance  before  stepping 
out  into  the  mud.  After  a  glance  at  the  water,  which  was  about 
as  thick  though  not  as  dark  as  coffee,  concluded  that  I  was  too 
clean  to  risk  a  wash.  A  fire  being  kindled,  we  had  beef,  coffee 
and  hard  bread.  Had  expected  early,  orders  to  march,  but  they 
did  not  come.  The  whistle  of  the  locomotive  at  Murfrees- 
borough  had  been  heard  at  intervals  all  night,  and  there  were 
speculations  as  to  whether  it  betokened  reinforcements  or  evacu 
ation.  I  had  rather  inclined  to  the  latter,  supposing  that  the 


328  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

usual  policy  of  our  enemy  has  been  to  draw  us  on  as  far  as  pos 
sible  from  our  base  of  supplies,  and  gain  as  much  time  to  bring 
their  limited  forces  to  the  spot,  thus  making  their  smaller  army 
really  equal  to  our  larger  one.  "Well,"  said  some,  "there  are 
many  things  we  shall  know  to-morrow  night  that  we  do  not 
know  now" — a  remark  which  received  a  striking  and  sad  veri 
fication. 

After  breakfast,  went  down  to  the  regiment  and  found  the  men 
cheerful  and  courageous  after  their  comfortless  night.  Alas,  it 
was  to  many  their  last  night,  and  to  others  the  first  of  many 
nights  of  discomfort  and  sorrow.  Here,  too,  they  were  all  spec 
ulating  upon  the  probabilities  of  finding  any  enemy  between  us 
and  Murfreesborough.  But  we  were  not  long  left  in  suspense. 
The  booming  of  artillery  in  the  front  told  that  our  troops  were 
beginning  to  take  up  their  positions  for  the  day.  Orderlies 
galloped  to  and  fro  over  the  pike,  and  soon  Gen.  Sheridan 
appeared  and  his  division  began  to  move. 

There  were  no  braver  men  in  the  army  than  the  three  officers 
who  commanded  the  brigades  in  our  division.  Col.  Roberts  led 
out  his  brigade  first,  and  I  noticed  with  what  feeling  he  bade 
adieu  to  Gen.  Sheridan,  as  though  conscious  of  the  perilous  work 
that  devolved  upon  him.  Then  came  our  brigade,  led  by  the 
esteemed  Sill,  the  36th  being  in  advance,  with  the  "old  man" 
at  the  head.  Our  regiment  never  looked  larger  to  me  than  this 
morning,  as  I  sat  on  my  horse  at  the  gap  in  the  fence  where  they 
passed  out  on  to  the  pike,  while,  as  usual,  the  whole  column 
resounded  with  fun  and  laughter. 

We  had  not  gone  far  before  skirmishers  were  thrown  out  to  our 
right,  we  marching  on  until  we  came  to  the  edge  of  the  timber, 
when  we  turned  to  the  right  and  took  up-  a  position  on  the  south 
edge  of  it  in  front  of  a  cornfield,  the  other  regiments  of  the 


ADVANCE    OF    DAVIS*  DIVISION.  329 

brigade  being  arranged  on  each  side,  a  battery  of  artillery  being 
at  the  left  edge  of  the  wood,  and  another  a  little  to  the  right. 
It  was  not  long  before  the  regiment  was  ordered  forward  into  the 
cornfield,  arid  the  men  laid  down.  The  battery  on  the  left  began 
to  play,  and  was  occasionally  responded  to  from  the  woods  where 
the  enemy  were  concealed.  Dr.  Pierce  and  I  being  behind  the 
regiment,  were  ordered  by  the  Colonel  to  retire  into  the  woods. 
Skirmishers  were  sent  out  to  feel  the  position  of  the  enemy  in 
the  woods  in  front  of  us,  while  we  remained  stationary  for  about 
two  hours. 

While  there,  Davis'  Division  advanced  in  line  of  battle  across 
the  field,  on  the  right,  and  entered  the  thick  woods  to  the  right 
of  where  our  skirmishers  were.  It  was  not  long  before  our 
division  was  ordered  forward,  marching  down  the  open  field 
towards  the  woods,  thus  joining  our  right  to  Davis'  left,  Johnson 
having  made  a  similar  movement  on  the  right  of  Davis  ;  the 
whole  line  going  not  due  south — straight  forward — but  diagonally 
towards  Murfreesborough,  so  as  to  form  when  the  fighting  was 
over  for  the  night  the  line  of  battle. 

Dr.  Pierce  and  I  started  to  follow  across  the  cornfield  towards 
the  woods.  Being  a  little  to  the  left,  we  rode  somewhat  diagon 
ally  to  come  up  to  the  regiment,  when  the  battery  on  the  right 
opened  fire,  and  of  course  was  right  across  the  track  we  were 
taking.  A  ball  cut  the  tops  of  the  cornstalks  so  little  in  advance 
of  us  that  had  we  started  two  or  three  seconds  sooner,  or  traveled 
so  much  faster  as  to  have  been  a  few  steps  further  forward,  we 
should  probably  both  have  been  struck,  for  I  was  slightly  in  his 
rear  and  to  the  left,  and  therefore  what  had  struck  one  would 
probably  have  taken  both.  We  immediately  concluded  that  it 
was  but  foolhardiness  for  those  on  whom  the  care  of  wounded 
devolved  thus  to  expose  themselves  when  they  could  render  no 

22 


330  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

kind  of  service.  Just  at  this  moment  a  man  from  the  22nd 
Illinois  coming  up  from  the  woods  with  his  hand  shot  and  need 
ing  immediate  attention,  we  rode  to  a  house  on  the  left  and  took 
possession  of  it  for  a  hospital,  it  being  nearest  of  any  to  the  scene 
of  action. 

This  building,  or  rather  series  of  buildings,  is  what  we  called 
"  Hospital  Harding,"  and  was  our  place  of  residence  for  over  a 
week,  where  we  had  the  care  of  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
wounded.  The  house  was  a  third  rate  frame  building,  with  the 
log  cook-house,  &c.,  attached,  and  surrounded  by  negro  cabins, 
as  is  the  custom  here,  while  at  a  little  distance  was  a  barn, 
cotton  gin  and  all  the  appliances  of  a  cotton  plantation.  The 
owner  was  evidently  a  man  of  considerable  wealth,  owning  about 
fifty  negroes,  and  having  an  extensive  plantation.  There  were 
evidences  on  the  premises  of  considerable  refinement,  a  well  cul 
tivated  garden  and  good  pianoforte  being  respectively  the  external 
and  internal  representatives  of  it.  Mr.  Harding  was  at  home, 
and  two  or  three  negroes.  At  the  time  we  took  possession  they 
had  sought  safety  in  the  cellar.  But  the  rest  of  the  family, 
white  and  black,  had  been  removed  to  the  other  side  of  Murfrees- 
borough,  the  secesh  commanders  having  informed  him  a  few  days 
before  that  the  battle  would  be  fought  on  his  land.  He  looked 
with  anvthirig  but  complacency  upon  the  Federal  army,  nnd 
indeed  there  was  nothing  peculiarly  attractive  in  a  body  of  men 
taking  forcible  possession  of  a  man's  house,  covering  his  floors, 
carpets,  beds  and  bedding  with  bleeding  men,  and  appropriating 
anything  within  reach  that  might  be  made  serviceable. 

But  I  saw  him  under  both  Northern  and  Southern  rule  and 
thought  it  plain  that  he  sympathized  with  the  latter  ;  yet  it  was 
equally  plain  that  he  had  very  little  human  kindness  in  his  breast, 
and  that  the  claims  of  humanity  were  very  lightly  felt — a  remark 


CAKE    OF    THE    WOUNDED,  331 

applicable  to  very  few  of  the  Southerners  with  whom  I  came  in 
contact.  He  evidently  cared  very  little  for  North  or  South  in 
comparison — I  will  not  say  with  his  family  or  plantation — but 
with  his  household  furniture,  his  chickens,  and  the  most  trifling 
articles  of  personal  property.  A  marked  illustration  of  this  I 
will  give  in  its  proper  place. 

We  had  no  sooner  attended  to  the  wounded  man  just  men 
tioned,  and  were  preparing  to  go  again  on  the  field,  than  one  and 
another  began  to  arrive,  some  riding,  some  walking,  and  some 
carried  upon  stretchers,  but  all  more  or  less  dangerously  wounded. 
Dr.  Young — who,  besides  being  the  senior  surgeon  of  the  36th, 
was  also  brigade  surgeon — had  by  this  time  arrived,  together  with 
the  surgeons  of  the  88th  Illinois  and  the  24th  Wisconsin,  and 
there  was  work  for  all.  To  me  was  assigned  the  duty  of  taking 
the  names  of  the  wounded,  their  regiment  and  the  location  and 
character  of  their  wounds,  and  as  I  went  the  rounds  it  was  sad  to 
find  that  a  large  proportion,  nearly  three-fifths,  were  of  my  own 
regiment,  they  having  been  placed  in  front.  Henry  came  in,  but 
happily  his  wound  was  not  dangerous.  One  young  man.  who  is 
a  professor  of  religion,  and  whose  name  was  among  those  associ 
ated  together  for  mutual  watch- care  and  Christian  effort,  was 
brought  in  dangerously  wounded,  and  as  I  approached  him  he 
exclaimed,  "  0,  Chaplain,  I  am  so  glad  I  have  mv  name  on  vour 
list."  While  all  this  was  going  on,  the  fight  outside  became  more 
fierce  as  the  forces  came  into  closer  contact ;  a  battery  planted 
near  the  house  convulsed  the  ground  at  every  explosion,  and 
threatening  to  dash  in  pieces  every  pane  of  glass. 

But  by-and-by  the  friendly  night,  as  if  sickened  at  the  sight  of 
slaughter,  separated  the  combatants,  and  all  was  still.  The  result 
of  this  short  conflict,  so  far  as  our  portion  of  the  field  was  con 
cerned,  was  five  killed  and  twenty-seven  wounded,  of  which  there 
were  belonging  to  the  36th  three  killed  and  thirteen  wounded. 


332  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Among  the  wounded  was  Lieut.  Davidson,  aid  to  Gen.  Sill, 
who  had  been  struck  by  a  ball  evidently  aimed  at  Col.  Greusel, 
but  which  glancing  by,  severely  wounded  the  Lieutenant.  After 
dark  Gen.  Sill  came  in  to  see  him.  The  General  was  at  once  a 
fearless  and  able  soldier,  and  a  kind  and  modest  gentleman — a 
man  whom  foes  might  fear,  and  friends  could  not  but  love.  It 
was  a  great  comfort  to  the  wounded  man  to  have  his  General  take 
such  interest  in  him.  Just  before  leaving,  he  stood  for  awhile 
leaning  on  his  sword,  wrapt  in  deep  thought,  and  I  imagined  a 
shade  of  sadness  on  his  fine  face.  The  next  morning,  when  he 
was  killed  almost  instantly  at  the  opening  of  the  battle,  I  won 
dered  whether  some  sad  presentiment  of  his  fate  was  not  passing 
through  his  mind  as  he  stood  the  evening  before,  gazing  silently 
upon  his  wounded  aid. 

The  question  of  the  morning  was  now  solved ;  the  enemy  in 
force  was  before  us  ;  and  as  we  spread  our  blankets  on  the  floor 
and  composed  ourselves  to  rest,  it  was  with  the  full  conviction 
that  to-morrowT  would  witness  one  of  the  fiercest  and  bloodiest 
battles  of  the  war. 

Wednesday,  Dec.  31s£,  1862. — Rose  between  four  and  five 
o'clock.  There  was  no  water  to  be  had,  nor  anything  to  put  it 
in,  so  that  another  day  I  had  to  go  unwashed.  For  breakfast  had 
fat  pork  and  hoe-cake,  made  of  corn  meal  and  water.  An  order 
had  come  during  the  night  to  have  all  the  wounded  removed  to  a 
house  two  miles  in  the  rear,  as  the  ground  on  which  the  hospital 
stood  was  expected  to  be  hotly  contested.  With  them  I  sent 
Henry,  in  charge  of  my  horse  and  blankets,  thinking  I* should  be 
so  busy  during  the  day  that  I  could  not  attend  to  private  prop 
erty.  It  was  very  fortunate  I  did  so,  or  horse  and  equipments 
would  have  fallen  into  secesh  hands.  By  the  time  this  work  was 
accomplished,  day  had  dawned.  A  few  of  us  occupied  the  leisure 


THE    HOSPITAL    UNDER    FIRE.  333 

moments  in  examining  the  grounds,  the  line  of  battle  at  the  edge 
of  the  wood  below  us,  and  in  hoisting  a  red  flag  on  the  roof,  that 
the  house  might  be  spared  by  both  armies.  Dr.  Griffiths,  Divis 
ion  Surgeon,  called  and  told  us  that  the  heaviest  fighting  would 
be  on  this  ground,  and  that  if  the  fire  became  too  hot  we  had 
better  retire. 

He  had  scarcely  left  us  when  a  big  gun  sounded  from  the  woods 
opposite  our  division,  giving  notice  that  the  fearful  work  of  the 
day  was  beginning.  It  was  significant  also  that  the  first  gun  was 
fired  by  the  enemy,  showing  that  the  policy  of  the  day  before — 
waiting  to  be  attacked — was  not  to  be  continued  to-day,  but  that 
he  had  assumed  the  offensive,  and  was  about  to  hurl  upon  one  of 
our  wings  all  his  available  force.  This  first  shot  was  quickly 
followed  by  others,  and  the  various  regiments  of  our  division 
were  soon  on  their  feet,  prepared  for  action.  Shot  and  shell 
began  to  fall  very  near  our  house,  while  a  battery  on  the  hill 
behind  us  opened  fire,  thus  placing  us  in  imminent  danger  from 
both  sides. 

We  concluded  the  time  had  come  to  obey  Dr.  Griffith's  order, 
but  loth  to  give  up  the  house  so  conveniently  situated  for  our 
regiment,  and  not  doubting  for  a  moment  that  our  troops  would 
speedily  advance  and  drive  the  enemy  before  them,  thus  placing 
our  hospital  out  of  range,  we  decided  to  retire  for  a  short  time  to 
the  woods  in  the  rear,  from  which  we  had  advanced  the  day 
before.  There  was  no  time  for  delay.  Dr.  Pierce  mounted  his 
horse,  while  I  started  on  foot,  and  made  all  haste  across  the  corn 
field,  bearing  constantly  to  the  west,  to  keep  out  of  range  of  the 
battery,  until  we  reached  the  edge  of  the  woods,  I  thoroughly 
exhausted  with  tramping  through  the  mud  and  minus  one  spur. 
Here  we  stayed  a  short  time,  until  we  were  joined  by  some  01 
the  36th  who  had  just  been  wounded  and  needed  immediate 


334  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

attention.  It  being  madness  to  return  to  our  old  place,  we  took 
them  to  another  house — Orison's — further  to  the  west,  "where 
were  gathered  several  hundred  wounded,  chiefly  of  the  previous 
day,  but  increased  every  moment  by  fresh  arrivals  from  the  field. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  obtain  accommodations  in  the  house,  we 
had  to  content  ourselves  with  giving  them  places  on  the  veranda, 
and  went  vigorously  at  work,  Dr.  Pierce  performing  the  necessary 
operations,  and  I  holding  the  instruments,  bandages,  &c. 

It  was  while  we  were  thus  engaged  that  we  began  to  suspect 
our  line  was  falling  back.  The  firing,  especially  the  musketry, 
was  unmistakably  drawing  nearer.  An  orderly  rode  up  hurridly, 
to  have  all  the  ambulances  driven  to  the  rear  as  fast  as  they 
arrived.  The  surgeon  in  charge  ordered  a  man  to  hoist  the  red 
flag.  One  of  our  men  whose  wound  had  been  dressed,  and  who 
having  the  use  of  his  hands,  had  just  been  sent  by  Dr.  Pierce  to 
build  a  fire — wounded  men  are  always  chilly — returned,  saying 
he  was  wounded  again,  a  shot  having  struck  his  arm.  It  was 
evident,  therefore,  that  not  only  was  our  line  retiring,  but  that 
already  we  were  within  range  of  the  enemy's  musketry. 

Now  what  shall  we  do?  was  the  question.  Shall  we  make 
our  escape  while  we  can,  or  remain  and  care  for  the  wounded, 
especially  those  of  our  own  regiment,  which  we  had  already 
learned  from  those  who  had  come  in,  was  fearfully  cut  up  ?  We 
both  felt  that  to  flee  would  be  dishonorable  both  to  our  profession 
and  to  our  humanity.  "  I  shall  stay,"  said  the  Doctor.  "  So 
shall  I,"  said  the  Chaplain.  Immediately  every  man  whose 
wounds  did  not  unfit  him  for  traveling  was  ordered  to  escape  to 
the  rear  ;  our  retreating  army  made  its  appearance,  and  the  fields 
and  woods  around  us  were  alive  with  men  and  horses,  all  hurry 
ing  away  from  the  advancing  enemy.  But  grasping  the  halter 
of  Dr.  Pierce's  horse  we  again  commenced  our  work  among  the 


A   TARGET    FOE    BOTH    FRIEND   AND    FOE.  335 

suffering.  In  a  moment  " whisk!"  came  a  shell  right  through 
the  yard,  quickly  followed  by  another  and  another.  In  the  con 
fusion  the  old  red  flag  had  not  been  hoisted  according  to  order, 
arid  here  we  were  in  the  full  range  of  a  battery !  We  hastily 
retreated  behind  the  house,  taking  with  us  both  the  wounded  men 
and  the  horse,  and  crouching  down  as  low  as  possible  we  pursued 
our  work.  Those  moments  were  terrible,  while  shot  and  shell 
rained  thickly  around  us,  and  we  felt  that  every  breath  might  be 
our  last. 

One  man  was  shot  on  the  platform  close  to  us.  But  neither 
of  us  regretted  that  we  had  stayed  behind,  and  many  a  time 
afterward,  when  we  were  surrounded  by  wounded  and  dying  men 
at  Hospital  Harding,  we  expressed  our  gladness  and  gratitude 
that  we  had  kept  the  path  of  duty,  which  in  this  case  certainly 
proved  to  be  the  "path  of  safety." 

But  on  came  the  Confederate  columns,  cheering  as  they 
advanced,  and  sweeping  through  the  yard,  fairly  enclosed  us  in 
their  lines.  Every  man  with  arms  laid  them  down,  and  we  passed 
into  Dixie  without  an  effort,  and  without  for  a  moment  ceasing 
to  dress  wounds.  We  had  scarcely  time  to  breathe  freely  in  our 
new  situation  before  another  danger  arose. 

Our  line  had  found  a  rallying  point  and  planted  a  battery,  and 
"  whisk !"  came  a  shell  through  the  yard  from  them.  We  were 
destined  to  be  a  target  for  friends  as  well  as  foes.  This  was  pecu 
liarly  unpleasant,  for  if  we  were  to  be  shot  at  all,  we  preferred 
that  it  should  not  be  by  our  own  army.  So  gathering  all  up 
again,  and  still  holding  on  to  the  horse,  who  had  no  relish  for  his 
strange  position,  we  hastened  to  the  other  side  of  the  house,  and 
behind  some  log  out-buildings,  seated  ourselves  on  some  timbers 
and  resumed  our  work.  But  by-and-by,  our  batteries  and  our 


336  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

line  receded,  a  second  line  of  the  Confederate  army  marched  up 
and  we  resigned  ourselves  to  our  fate. 

In  all  my  anticipations  and  forebodings  of  the  day,  no  such 
denouement  as  this  had  any  part.  I  looked  for  a  fierce  and 
bloody  contest  equal  to  any  since  the  war  began ;  for  the  thun 
dering  of  artillery,  the  roll  of  musketry,  and  worst  of  all,  for 
the  masses  of  dead  and  crowd  of  wounded  and  dying;  but  the 
thought  that  our  line  would  be  driven  back,  and  I  should  find 
myself  in  the  Southern  Confederacy,  never  for  a  moment  crossed 
my  mind.  I  could  scarcely  credit  my  own  senses  when  the  stub 
born  fact  stared  me  in  the  face.  Why  was  all  this  ?  We  both 
thought  we  could  discern  the  cause,  and  subsequent  inquiries  and 
developments  confirmed  our  suspicions.  The  truth  was,  we  were 
surprised,  and  "Shiloh"  was  the  word  we  exchanged  when  we 
had  time  to  reflect.  The  enemy  had  played  his  old  game,  and 
successfully,  too,  of  massing  his  force  suddenly  upon  one  wing 
of  our  army,  and  partly  by  the  weight  of  his  columns,  and  partly 
by  the  surprise  of  the  attack,  we  had  been  driven  back.  I  can 
not  say  that  the  Generals  had  taken  me  into  their  confidence,  but 
as  "actions  speak -louder  than  words,"  I  will  tell  you  what  from 
their  actions  appeared  to  me  to  be  the  plans  of  the  Generals  on 
both  sides,  and  from  facts  learned  after  we  were  once  more  within 
our  own  lines,  I  think  I  am  not  far  from  the  truth. 

Our  line  of  battle  on  Tuesday  night  extended  about  three 
miles,  Johnson  being  on  the  extreme  right,  near  the  Franklin 
pike.  Next  came  Davis'  Division,  then  Sheridan's.  These  three 
divisions  constituted  McCook's  corps,  or  right  wing.  Next  to 
him  was  Thomas'  corps,  and  then  Crittenden's  on  the  left.  On 
the  two  pikes  in  the  rear,  and  protected  by  our  line  of  battle, 
were  our  trains  of  ammunition  and  army  stores.  Rosencrans' 
headquarters  were  several  miles  back  on  the  Nashville  pike. 


THE    CONFEDERATE    PLAN    WELLf  EXECUTED.  331 

I  do  not  believe  it  was  Gen.  R's  design  to  attack  on  Wednes 
day  morning  with  his  whole  line,  for  I  listened  anxiously  to  hear 
Crittenden's  cannonade,  hoping  that  a  movement  on  the  left 
might  relieve  us  on  the  right.  But  I  listened  in  vain,  and  I 
think  it  was  not  designed  that  Crittemden  should  advance,  until 
it  was  found  that  our  attack  on  the  right  was  successful,  when  he 
should  march  into  the  town  and  complete  the  rout  of  the  enemy. 
But  they  also  had  their  plan,  which  was  to  hold  back  on  Tuesday 
until  our  forces  were  brought  forward  and  something  of  their 
strength  could  be  ascertained,  and  then  leaving  a  small  force  to 
threaten  and  check  our  left,  hurl  their  available  vStrength  on 
McCook's  corps,  dr've  him  back,  take  possession  of  the  two  pikes, 
thus  securing  not  only  our  trains  of  supplies  and  ammunition, 
but  effectually  cutting  us  off  from  Nashville.  This  would  com 
pel  us  to  retreat  to  some  point  on  the  Cumberland  river,  and  by 
harassing  our  rear  and  attacking  us  in  detail,  they  could  weary 
out  and  demoralize  our  forces.  In  accordance  with  this  plan, 
their  cavalry  had  attacked  and  burned  an  immense  train  on  Tues 
day,  at  Lavergne,  on  the  Nashville  road,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  attack  was  made  on  our  right,  a  heavy  force  of  cavalry  was 
sent  around  to  our  rear,  and  while  McCook  was  falling  back  our 
whole  train  of  ammunition  and  supplies  was  falling  into  the 
enemy's  hands.  1  am  glad  to  say,  however,  they  did  not  keep 
it  above  twenty  or  thirty  minutes. 

It  is  vsimple  justice  to  a  brave  foe  to  admit  that  their  plan  was 
admirably  conceived  and  well  executed,  and  for  a  time  seemed 
certain  of  success.  But  it  must  also  be  said  that  there  were  cir 
cumstances  in  our  army  which  favored  their  plan,  and  helped 
materially  to  carry  it  out.  Chief  among  them  was  the  mode  in 
which  they  fought  the  previous  day.  The  mass  of  their  army 
was  concealed  behind  the  woods,  and  it  was  only  by  the  continual 


338  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

advance  of  our  skirmishers  and  lines  that  we  could  find  them  at 
all.  Our  Generals,  or  at  least  some  of  them,  never  dreamed  but 
what  the  same  mode  of  fighting  would  be  adopted  on  Wednesday, 
and  that  nothing  would  be  done  until  they  made  the  attack. 
When,  therefore,  the  enemy  who  had  been  slightly  massing  his 
troops  all  night,  started  as  soon  as  it  was  light,  and  charged 
heavily  along  our  whole  line,  driving  in  our  pickets  and  stopping 
at  nothing,  he  found  our  troops  on  the  extreme  right,  the  most 
important  part  of  all,  entirely  unprepared.  They  were  not  in 
line  of  battle,  their  arms  were  stacked,  not  a  few  were  in  their 
shelter  tents,  others  cooking  and  fetching  water,  while  the  horses 
of  at  least  one  battery  were  off  watering,  and  the  battery  was 
captured  without  firing  a  single  shot.  Of  course  they  retreated 
in  confusion,  by  which  Davis  was  not  only  attacked  in  front  but 
also  on  his  right  flank,  and  nothing  but  retreat  could  save  him 
from  destruction.  This  brought  Sheridan  into  the  same  position, 
and  desperately  did  his  division  seek  to  turn  the  tide.  They 
fought  until  it  was  useless  to  stand  longer,  when  they  were 
ordered  back — Rosecrans  himself  saying  that  Sheridan  had  saved 
his  army,  but  at  what  a  fearful  cost !  Let  the  silent  voices  of 
three  brigade  commanders,  and  two  hundred  killed  and  wounded 
of  my  beloved  regiment  alone,  reveal. 

But  you  will  be  anxious  to  know  more  particularly  the  part 
the  36th  performed  in  this  deadly  struggle.  When  we  left  the 
regiment  the  afternoon  before  to  attend  to  the  wounded,  they 
continued  their  march  to  the  woods,  bearing  towards  Murfrees- 
borough,  in  the  direction  of  the  line  of  battle.  They  were  ordered 
to  lie  down,  while  a  battery  placed  below  the  hospital  fired  over 
them  into  the  woods,  where  was  the  far-famed  Washington  bat 
tery,  of  New  Orleans.  After  a  while  the  regiment  was  ordered 
up  and  to  fix  bayonets  for  a  charge  on  the  battery,  seeing  which 


VIGILANCE    OF    GEN.    SILL.  339 

the  enemy  hastened  to  draw  it  off.  The  left  of  the  regiment 
was  then  brought  up  even  with  the  woods,  making  the  whole  line 
parallel  with  and  facing  into  the  woods.  It  was  while  this  move 
ment  was  being  made,  which  brought  one  end  of  the  regiment 
towards  the  enemy,  that  a  large  number  of  the  wounds  of  our 
men  were  received.  Quickly,  however,  the  position  was  changed, 
and  when  the  firing  ceased  for  the  night,  they  occupied  the  ground 
half  in  the  woods  and  half  out.  Our  skirmishers  were  thrown 
out  to  the  edge  of  the  cornfield,  while  the  skirmishers  of  the 
enemy  occupied  the  woods  on  the  other  side,  the  cornfield  being 
the  disputed  ground. 

Whatever  neglect  may  be  attributed  to  other  officers,  none  can 
attach  to  ours,  whether  brigade  or  regimental.  The  men  were 
allowed  no  tents,  nor  comforts,  but  for  the  second  night  had  to 
lie  upon  the  ground,  with  nothing  to  eat  but  hard  bread  and  raw 
pork.  They  continued  in  line  of  battle  all  night,  and  though 
these  regulations  were  hard  to  bear,  if  all  our  army  had  been 
dealt  with  in  this  manner,  the  day's  disaster  might  have  been 
prevented.  Gen.  Sill  never  for  a  moment  relaxed  his  attention 
to  his  brigade.  He  visited  our  advanced  skirmishers  and  watched 
during  the  night  as  the  enemy  massed  his  troops  opposite.  He 
foresaw  the  events  of  the  coming  day,  and  therefore  it  was  that 
he  ordered  the  wounded  to  be  carried  to  the  rear  before  daylight. 
When  the  first  gun  was  fired  from  the  woods  and  the  desperate 
charge  was  made,  there  was  no  surprise,  every  man  was  in  his 
place.  Col.  Greusel  sent  his  horse  to  the  rear,  sharing  with  his 
men  the  dangers  of  the  position;  and  as  the  enemy  advanced, 
passing  through  our  line  of  skirmishers,  the  36th,  sheltered  by  a 
low  pile  of  rails  in  their  front,  poured  such  volleys  into  their 
ranks  that  they  wavered  and  began  to  fall  back.  Immediately 
an  order  was  given  to  charge  bayonets.  The  men  started  up  and 


340  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

charged  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  but  fresh  columns  of  the  enemy 
were  advancing,  the  regiment  on  our  right,  too.  had  given  way, 
so  that  the  36th  fell  back  to  its  original  position,  and  again  poured 
its  volleys  into  the  advancing  foe. 

It  was  now  that  Gen.  Sill  fell  mortally  wounded  under  the  left 
eye,  while  directing  the  movements  of  the  battery,  and  the  enemy 
pouring  in  upon  the  right  as  well  as  front  of  the  regiment,  thus 
obtaining  a  raking  fire  upon  it,  company  after  company  was  com 
pelled  to  fall  back  to  escape  utter  destruction..  A  rally  was  made 
at  Schaffer's  Brigade,  which  was  in  the  rear,  but  the  ammunition 
of  the  men  was  expended,  and  by  order  of  Gen.  McCook  they 
fell  back  to  replenish. 

The  record  of  this  deadly  struggle  can  be  read  not  only  in  the 
fearful  list  of  our  killed  and  wounded,  but  in  the  trees  among 
which  it  took  place.  No  part  of  the  whole  field  showed  more 
plainly  the  awful  storm  that  raged  around.  Trees  were  there 
with  numerous  bullets  imbedded  in  each  side,  and  one  more  con 
spicuous  than  the  rest,  two  and  a-half  feet  through,  was  com 
pletely  pierced  by  a  cannon  ball,  and  others  were  torn  to  splinters 
by  shells.  As  we  gazed  upon  these  silent  evidences  we  wondered 
how  any  man  escaped  with  life. 

As  it  was,  we  had  forty-five  killed  and  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
four  wounded,  not  a  few  of  whom  have  since  died,  and  others 
cannot  recover. 

Well  might  the  regiment  use  in  sad  sincerity  the  words  spoken 
in  jest  as  we  waded  through  the  mud  at  Triune,  "  0,  my  coun 
try,  how  much  do  I  suffer  for  thee!" 

I  will  pause  here  in  my  personal  narrative  to  insert  the  descrip 
tion  given  by  Major  Miller,  to  his  friends  at  Aurora,  on  his  release 
from  captivity  in  Libby  Prison.  He  says  : 

From  Nashville  we  advanced  towards  Murfreesborough  slowly, 
as  the  mud  was  knee  deep,  and  skirmishing  all  the  time.  The 


UNDER    A    HEAVY    ARTILLERY    FIRE.  341 

day  before  the  battle  of  Murfreesborough,  the  30th,  we  encoun 
tered  the  enemy  in  strong  force — their  infantry  continually  oppos 
ing  our  advance ;  skirmishing  most  of  the  time,  and  skirmishing 
is  the  prettiest  way  of  fighting  in  the  world.  We  advanced  till 
we  had  to  rest  for  the  day.  Soon  the  rebels  opened  upon  us 
with  five  or  six  pieces  of  artillery,  and  if  I  was  ever  under  a 
heavy  artillery  fire,  it  was  that  afternoon.  I  have  always  enter 
tained  considerable  regard  for  the  ability  of  the  being  called 
Lucifer  to  make  hideous  noises,  but  I  don't  think  he  could  get 
up  anything  to  compare  with  the  horrible  screeching,  hissing  and 
moaning  of  grape,  shell  and  shrapnel  from  artillery.  But  the 
danger  to  which  you  are  exposed  is  not  to  be  compared  with  that 
of  musketry.  The  minnie  ball  may  go  by  without  being  noticed, 
but  a  shell  that  weighs  from  six  to  thirty  pounds  makes  a  noise 
that  sends  a  thrill  of  horror  to  your  very  soul.  That  night  was 
cold  and  dreary,  and  we  could  not  stir  without  a  ball  whizzing  by. 
They  would  not  come  over  to  talk,  but  would  send  over  little 
messengers.  It  Avas  absolutely  necessary  for  every  man  to  keep 
still.  Dared  not  go  to  the  fire  to  warm ;  could  not  get  up  and 
dance  around  unless  you  went  to  the  rear,  and  if  the  Colonel 
found  jou  there,  you  would  go  back  without  ceremony.  It  was 
generally  understood  that  we  were  to  attack,  until  informed 
that  the  enemy  were  to  attack  us.  Under  these  circumstances 
we  were  ordered  to  fall  back  slowly,  and  the  left  wing  was  to  fall 
upon  Murfreesborough.  At  daybreak  we  had  just  finished  our 
breakfast  when  a  continued  fire  of  musketry  was  heard.  Very 
soon  our  skirmishers  were  falling  back,  and  when  you  get  the 
Elgin  boys  with  their  Enfield  rifles  and  those  fellows  down  here 
with  their  Springfield  rifles,  you  may  bet  your  life  they  come  into 
line  of  battle  very  suddenly,  and  some  work  is  soon  accomplished. 
They  were  not  slow  of  action  upon  this  occasion.  On  came  the 
rebels,  the  24th  Wisconsin  waiting  to  receive  them.  The  divis 
ions  to  the  right  were  driven  back.  We  knew  nothing  of  the 
fate  of  those  to  the  right  or  left.  It  made  no  difference  to  us ; 
our  instructions  were  to  hold  that  point.  The  enemy's  attack 
was  the  most  terrific  I  have  ever  witnessed.  I  have  heard  officers 
who  were  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Antietam,  South  Mountain 


342  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and  Richmond,  assert  that  they  never  saw  such  an  impetuous 
attack — an  attack  which  it  was  so  utterly  impossible  to  resist. 
When  troops  are  all  formed,  one  brigade  in  the  rear  of  another, 
moving  in  a  perfect  column,  the  opposing  line  must  give  way 
somewhere.  The  enemy's  force  struck  our  line,  which  was  single 
and  not  backed  up  by  supports,  as  they  could  have  been,  some 
where  near  the  center  of  Davis'  Division. 

Some  held  their  positions  long  enough  to  fire  eight  or  ten 
rounds  at  the  enemy.  With  such  furious  onslaught  they  moved 
on,  taking  full  batteries  before  the  horses  were  harnessed.  The 
enemy  advanced  in  splendid  style,  their  first  lines  coming  up 
closely  upon  each  other,  until  within  range  of  our  boys,  who 
gave  them  such  a  warm  reception  that  not  over  half  of  them  went 
back  again.  Some  went  back,  and  in  a  great  hurry,  too.  One 
regiment  on  our  right,  composed  of  just  as  good  materials  as  any 
regiment  in  the  service,  as  their  works  on  that  day  proved,  the 
officers  did  not  command  with  the  most  implicit  confidence.  That 
regiment  broke,  and  in  attempting  to  rally  it.  Gen.  Sill  was 
killed.  Another  regiment  took  its  place,  and  when  the  order  was 
given  to  charge  upon  the  enemy,  every  man  was  up  for  the  fray, 
and  they  administered  to  the  first  line  terrible  punishment.  We 
had  hardly  left  our  position  for  the  charge  when  the  word  came, 
"Gen.  Sill  is  killed!"  It  shocked  me  terribly,  for  if  I  ever 
loved  any  man,  that  man  was  Gen.  Sill.  He  was  a  man  to  love. 
He  loved  every  patriot,  and  every  patriot  loved  him. 

The  second  line  of  the  enemy  was  upon  us.  We  first  charged, 
then  fell  back  to  wait  their  attack.  They  were  upon  us  before 
we  were  fairly  formed.  The  place  upon  our  right  had  been  refilled 
by  new  regiments.  They  could  not  hold  their  position  long,  and 
when  it  was  absolutely  impossible  to  do  so  longer,  they  fell  back. 
I  cursed  until  I  was  hoarse  the  men  who  left  the  field  in  such  dis 
grace. 

You  don't  know  how  intensely  you  can  love  or  hate  a  man  until 
you  have  seen  him  on  the  battle-field.  The  second  line  of  the 
enemy  had  been  whipped  and  every  regiment  was  about  making 
another  charge.  The  enemy  prepared  to  advance  the  second 


MAJOR  MILLER'S  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BATTLE.        343 

line  coming  up  and  waiting  for  their  approach,  when  a  tremen 
dous  roar  came  and  nothing  could  be  heard  but  the  terrible  crash 
of  musketry.  The  surrounding  scenes  if  T  could  describe,  I 
would  not  attempt  to. 

When  the  third  line  of  the  enemy  came  up.  further  resistance 
ceased  to  be  a  virtue — it  was  a  useless  waste  of  life.  The  galling 
fire  of  the  right  was  more  destructive  than  any  other,  and  not 
having  seen  a  superior  officer  for  some  time,  I  gave  the  order  to 
retreat,  and  never  felt  so  proud  as  when  I  saw  the  little  band  run 
as  fast  as  their  legs  could  carry  them.  They  were  only  going  a 
little  further,  to  welcome  them  on  for  a  more  deadly  conflict. 
Just  there  I  bade  the  regiment  "good  bye."  That  was  the  day 
before  New  Years.  I  never  felt  so  perfectly  satisfied  that  we 
could  whip  them  three  to  one,  if  they  would  come  straight  in 
front. 

To  me,  the  light  of  that  day  was  darkness  and  despair.  The 
showers  of  tears  that  poured  over  me  as  the  corporals  asked  if  they 
should  not  carry  me  to  the  hospital,  was  a  strong  contrast  to  what 
I  heard  two  minutes  afterward  ;  "  Oh,  you  d — d  Yankee,  we've 
got  you  now !" 

An  eye-witness  describes  the  progress  and  final  checking  of- the 
enemy  on  the  Nashville  Pike  thus : 

To  Gen.  Sheridan  was  left  the  task  of  repelling  the  hitherto 
successful  onset  of  the  foe.  Never  did  man  labor  more  faithfully 
than  he  to  perform  his  task,  and  never  was  a  leader  seconded  by 
more  gallant  soldiers.  His  Division  formed  a  kind  of  pivot  upon 
which  the  broken  right  wing  turned  in  its  flight,  and  its  perilous 
condition  can  easily  be  imagined,  when  the  flight  of  Davis' 
Division  left  it  without  any  protection  from  the  triumphant 
enemy,  who  now  swarmed  upon  its  front  and  right  flank. — 
But  it  fought  until  a  fourth  of  its  number  lay  bleeding  and  dying 
upon  the  field,  and  both  remaining  commanders.  Col.  Roberts  and 
Col.  Schaffer,  had  met  with  the  same  fate  as  Gen.  Sill.  Then  it 
gave  way,  and  as  in  almost  every  instance  of  the  kind,  retreat 
was  changed  into  a  rout,  only  less  complete  than  that  of  the  troops 
of  Johnson  and  Davis. 


344  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

All  these  divisions  were  now  hurled  back  together  into  the 
immense  series  of  cedar  thickets  which  skirt  the  turnpike  and 
extend  far  over  the  right.  Brigade  after  brigade,  battery  after 
battery,  from  Palmer's,  Negley's  and  Rousseau's  Divisions,  were 
sent  into  the  midst  of  the  thickets  to  check  the  progress  of  the 
foe  and  rally  the  fugitives  ;  but  all  in  turn  were  either  crushed 
outright  by  the  flying  crowds,  broken  by  the  impetuosity  of  the 
foe,  and  put  to  confused  flight  or  compelled  to  retire  and  extricate 
themselves  in  the  best  manner  that  seemed  to  offer. 

The  history  of  the  combat  in  those  dark,  cedar  thickets  will 
never  be  known.  No  man  could  see  even  the  whole  of  his  own 
regiment,  and  no  one  will  ever  be  able  to  tell  who  they  were  that 
fought  the  bravest  arid  they  who  proved  recreant  to  their  trust. 
I  know,  too,  that  there  was  shown  by  many  officers  arid  regi 
ments  as  lofty  a  heroism  as  that  which  distinguished  and  immor 
talized  the  followers  of  Godfrey  or  the  Cid. 

But  in  spite  of  heroism  and  devotion,  in  spite  of  desperate 
struggles  which  marked  every  fresh  advance  of  the  foe,  in  spite 
of  an  awful  sacrifice  of  life  on  the  part  of  the  officers  and  soldiers 
of  4he  Union  army,  the  Rebels  still  steadily  pushed  onward  and 
came  nearer  to  the  turnpike.  Nearly  two  and  a-half  miles  the 
right  wing  of  the  army  had  been  driven,  and  a  faintness  of  heart 
came  over  me  as  the  destruction  of  our  whole  army  seemed  to 
stare  us  in  the  face.  But  the  word  went  forth  from  Rosecrans, 
the  flower  of  the  left  wing  and  centre  were  hurried  over  toward 
the  right,  and  massed,  rank  behind  rank,  in  an  array  of  impos 
ing  grandeur,  along  the  turnpike,  facing  to  the  woods  through 
which  the  Rebels  were  advancing. 

The  scene  at  this  time  was  grand  and  awful  as  anything  that  I 
ever  expect  to  witness  until  the  Day  of  Judgment.  I  stood  in 
the  midst  and  upon  the  highest  point  of  the  somewhat  elevated 
space  between  the  turnpike  and  the  railroad,  which  formed  the 
key  to  our  entire  position.  Let  the  Rebels  once  obtain  posses 
sion  of  it,  and  of  the  immense  train  of  wagons  parked  along  the 
turnpike,  and  the  Union  army  was  irretrievably  ruined.  Even 


THE    STORM    OF    BATTLE.  345 

its  lines  of  retreat  would  be  cut  off,  and  nothing  would  save  it 
from  utter  rout,  slaughter  and  capture. 

And  yet  each  minute  it  became  more  and  more  plainly  evident 
that  all  the  reinforcements  which  had  been  hurried  into  the  woods 
to  sustain  and  rally  the  broken  right  wing  and  check  the  progress 
of  the  enemy  in  that  direction,  had  proved  inadequate  to  the 
task,  and  had  in  turn  been  overthrown  by  the  great  mass  which 
was  struggling  in  inextricable  disorder  through  the  woods.  Such 
sounds  as  proceeded  from  that  gloomy  forest  of  pines  and  cedars 
were  enough  to  appal  with  terror  the  stoutest  hearts.  The  roar 
of  cannon,  the  crashing  of  shot  through  the  trees,  the  whizzing 
and  bursting  of  shell,  the  uninterrupted  rattle  of  thirty  thou 
sand  muskets,  all  mingled  in  one  prolonged  and  tremendous 
volume  of  sound,  as  though  all  the  thunders  of  heaven  had  been 
rolled  together,  and  each  individual  burst  of  celestial  artillery 
had  been  rendered  perpetual.  Above  it  could  be  heard  the  wild 
cheer  of  the  traitorous  hosts,  as  body  after  body  of  our  troops 
gave  way  and  were  pushed  back  toward  the  turnpike. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  storm;  louder  and  louder  the 
tumult  of  battle.  The  immense  train  of  wagons  parked  along 
the  road  suddenly  seemed  instinct  with  life,  and  every  species  of 
army  vehicle,  preceded  by  frightened  mules  and  horses,  rolled 
and  rattled  away  pell  mell  in  an  opposite  direction  from  that  in 
which  the  victorious  foe  was  pressing  onward.  The  shouts  and 
cries  of  the  terrified  teamsters,  urging  their  animals  to  the  top  of 
their  speed,  were  now  mingled  with  the  billows  of  sound  which 
swayed  and  surged  over  the  field. 

Everything  now  depended  upon  the  regiments  and  batteries 
which  the  genius  of  Rosecrans  had  massed  along  the  turnpike,  to 
receive  the  enemy  when  he  should  emerge  from  the  woods  in 
pursuit  of  our  broken  and  flying  batallion.  Suddenly  the  rout 
became  visible,  and  ten  thousand  fugitives.,  representing  every  pos 
sible  phase  of  wild  and  uncontrollable  disorder,  burst  from  the 
cedar  thickets  and  rushed  into  the  open  space  between  them  and 
the  turnpike.  Amongst  them  all  perhaps  no  half  dozen  mem 
bers  of  the  same  regiment  could  have  been  found  together. 

23 


346  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Thick  and  fast  the  bullets  of  the  enemy  fell  among  them,  and 
scores  were  shot  down ;  but  still  the  number  increased  by  reason 
of  the  fresh  crowds  which  burst  every  moment  from  the  thickets. 
It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  some  of  the  regiments, 
which  had  been  massed  together  as  a  sort  of  forlorn  hope,  to 
withstand  and  if  possible  drive  back  the  victorious  cohorts  of 
treason,  could  prevent  their  ranks  from  being  crushed  or  broken 
by  the  mass  of  fugitives. 

From  my  position,  upon  the  elevated  ground  between  the  rail 
road  and  the  turnpike,  I  could  view  the  whole  scene,  and  with  an 
intensity  of  interest  and  tumultuous  emotions  which  I  have  no 
language  to  express,  I  watched  for  the  result  when  the  desperate 
soldiers  of  the  rebellion  should  enter  the  open  space.  A  tempest 
of  iron  was  whistling  about  my  head ;  but  for  the  first  time  since 
I  began  to  participate  in  the  transactions  of  this  fearful  war,  they 
whistled  and  burst  unheeded.  I  make  no  pretentions  to  extra 
ordinary  physical  courage.  He  who  says  that  amid  the  horrors 
of  a  battle  he  experiences  no  feeling  of  awe,  and  sometimes  shrink 
ing  awe,  is  a  falsifier,  an  idiot,  or  a  madman.  But  at  this  time 
I  could  not  have  retired  even  had  I  been  so  inclined.  My  feet 
were  rooted  to  the  spot;  my  gaze  was  fascinated  and  fixed  upon 
the  quarter  where  I  expected  the  enemy  to  appear,  and  had  an 
earthquake  rent  the  ground  before  me  I  could  not  have  moved 
from  the  spot,  until  I  knew  from  the  testimony  of  my  own  eye 
sight  whether  or  no  the  troops,  upon  whom  rested  the  last  hope 
of  the  Union  army,  were  to  be,  like  the  rest,  beaten  and  over 
thrown.  It  was  not  in  consequence  of  superior  physical  courage 
that  I  remained  there,  but  of  the  mental  impossibility  of  doing 
otherwise. 

With  cool  courage,  Gen.  Crittenden  awaited  the  coming  storm, 
and  conspicuous  among  all  was  the  well  built  form  of  the  com 
manding  General ;  his  countenance  unmoved  by  the  tumult  around 
him,  but  expressing  a  high  and  patriotic  hope,  -which  acted  like 
an  inspiration  upon  every  one  that  beheld  him.  As  he  cast 
his  eye  over  the  grand  array  which  he  had  mustered  to  repel 
the  foe,  he  already  felt  himself  master  of  the  situation. 


BATTLE    STILL    RAGING.  347 

At  last  the  long  lines  of  the  enemy  emerged  from  the  woods, 
rank  behind  rank,  and  with  a  demoniac  yell,  intended  to  strike 
into  the  souls  of  the  "  Yankees  "  who  stood  before  them,  charged 
with  fearful  energy  almost  to  the  very  muzzles  of  the  cannon 
whose  dark  mouths  yawned  upon  them. 

A  dazzling  sheet  of  flame  burst  from  the  ranks  of  the  Union 
forces.  An  awful  roar  shook  the  earth  ;  a  crash  rent  the  atmos 
phere.  The  foremost  lines  of  the  rebel  host  were  literally  swept 
from  the  field,  and  seemed  to  melt  away  like  snowflakes  before  a 
flame.  Then  both  armies  were  enveloped  in  a  vast  cloud  of 
smoke,  which  hid  everything  from  the  eye. 

In  the  still  visible  ground  between  the  pike  and  the  railroad, 
the  tumult  redoubled.  Not  knowing  what  would  be  the  result 
of  the  strife  which  was  raging  under  the  great  canopy  of  smoke 
that  concealed  the  combatants,  the  flight  of  those  in  charge  of 
wagons  and  ambulances  became  still  more  rapid  and  disordered. 
Thousands  of  fugitives  from  the  broken  right  wing  mingled  with 
the  teams,  and  frequently  a  mass  of  men,  horses  and  wagons 
would  be  crushed  and  ground  together.  Every  conceivable  form 
of  deadly  missile  whizzed  and  whirled  and  burst  among  the  crowd, 
and  terror  and  dismay  ruled  uncontrolled.  The  whole  disordered 
mass  rushed  down  as  fast  as  possible  toward  the  river,  into  which 
it  plunged,  pushing  arid  struggling  to  the  other  side. 

The  combat  under  that  great  cloud  of  smoke  was  some 
what  similar  to  that  in  the  woods.  No  one  knows  exactly  what 
occurred.  There  was  a  shout,  a  charge,  a  rush  of  fire,  a  recoil, 
and  then  all  for  a  time  disappeared.  For  ten  minutes  the  thun 
der  of  battle  burst  forth  from  the  cloud.  When  our  batallion 
advanced  they  found  no  Rebels  between  the  woods  and  the  turn 
pike,  except  the  dead,  dying  and  disabled.  There  were  hundreds 
of 'these,  and  their  blood  soaked  and  reddened  the  ground. 
Since  the  annihilation  of  the  "  Old  Guard  "  in  their  charge  at 
Waterloo,  there  has  probably  not  been  an  instance  of  so  great  a 
slaughter  in  so  short  a  time,  as  during  this  repulse  of  the  Rebel 
left  at  Murfreesboro,  and  it  will  hereafter  be  celebrated  in  history, 
as  much  as  is  the  fiery  combat  which  crushed  forever  the  power 
and  prospects  of  Napoleon. 


348  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

I  will  now  return  to  relate  our  adventures  after  being  enclosed 

in  the  enemy's  lines. 

i 

A  Provost-Guard  was  immediately  placed  around  all  the  build 
ings.  In  a  few  minutes  Gens.  Hardee  and  Cheatham,  with  their 
staffs,  rode  up.  Gen.  Hardee  has  a  very  dignified  and  intellect 
ual  countenance,  and,  what  rather  surprised  me  in  a  Southern 
chief,  was  remarkably  placid.  No  one  can  see  him  without  feel 
ing  that  he  is  a  man  of  unusual  ability.  Gen.  Cheatham  was 
more  demonstrative,  and  answered  more  nearly  to  the  character 
attributed  to  Southerners.  It  was  the  judgment  of  more  than 
one  that  day  that  he  was  intoxicated.  While  they  were  near 
the  house,  the  body  of  Gen'.  Rains — one  of  their  commanders  at 
Pea  Ridge — was  brought  in  on  a  stretcher.  Those  who  stood 
by  said  that  Cheatham  wept  freely  when  he  saw  that  his  friend 
had  fallen.  One  of  Hardee's  staff  soon  called  out  all  the  Fed 
eral  soldiers  who  could  walk,  and  ordering  them  to  take  off  their 
hats,  administered  to  them  the  oath  not  to  take  up  arms  until 
regularly  exchanged.  At  first  I  was  a  little  surprised  at  the 
haste  with  which  this  was  done ;  but  when  I  saw  the  cautious 
ness  their  generals  manifested  in  advancing  their  troops,  I  con 
cluded  they  were  not  by  any  means  sure  of  their  position  and 
thought  it  best  to  secure  as  many  as  possible  of  our  men,  lest 
our  line  should  return.  All  who  could  walk  to  Murfreesboro, 
except  a  few  detached  as  nurses,  were  then  marched  off  under 
guard,  and  as  they  shouted  their  u  good  byes  "  to  their  comrades, 
I  wondered  what  strange  and  perhaps  sad  scenes  they  would  pass 
through  before  they  would  meet  again.  Of  course  we  knew  that 
we  could  not  be  paroled  or  treated  as  prisoners  of  war.  so  we  con 
tinued  without  intermission  the  care  of  the  wounded,  paying  no 
attention  to  the  call  for  all  Federals  to  fall  in.  Just  before  the 
rest  were  marched  off,  the  officer  called  for  Dr.  Pierce,  who 


THE   TIDE    OF   BATTLE   TURNS.  349 

informed  him  that  he  and  I  had  remained  to  care  for  the  wounded. 
"Very  well,"  he  replied,  "you  and  the  Chaplain  will  do  what 
you  can  for  the  interests  of  humanity."  So  to  work  we  went 
again — now  and  then  attending  to  a  wounded  secesh  as  well  as 
our  own  men. 

We  listened  anxiously,  to  judge  if  possible  the  fate  of  our 
army,  but  farther  and  farther  went  our  columns,  and  the  can 
nonade  grew  fainter  and  fainter.  At  last  there  was  evidently  a 
stand — our  men  obstinately  refusing  to  be  driven  any  further — 
and  then  commenced  such  a  roll  of  musketry  as  I  never  heard 
before  and  hope  never  to  hear  again.  It  made  us  both  pause  in 
our  work,  and  raise  up,  and  wait,  looking  in  the  direction  from 
which  it  came,  and  my  heart  sank  foi  a  moment,  as  I  thought  of 
the  awful  slaughter  that  must  ensue ;  for  in  a  battle,  it  is  such 
musketry  as  that  which  cuts  down  men.  Happily  such  fighting 
never  lasts  long — one  side  or  the  other  must  give  back.  This 
time  it  was  the  enemy.  Our  columns  were  evidently  advancing 
— the  firing  came  nearer — the  last  line,  with  its  battery,  that 
had  gone  past  us,  came  back,  and  formed  very  near  us,  as  though 
to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  advance  line,  and  finally  a  friendly 
cannon  ball  from  one  of  our  guns  came  whistling  over  our  heads, 
and  by  our  looks,  and  remarks  uttered  in  a  low  voice,  we  began 
to  congratulate  ourselves  that  the  day  was  not  as  disastrous  as 
we  had  supposed,  but  that  perhaps  we  might  yet  sleep  at  night 
within  our  own  lines.  But  no  more  shots  came  over  us ;  our 
columns  had  evidently  ceased  their  advance,  and  we  worked  on 
to  alleviate  the  mass  of  suffering  around  us.  But  as  hour  after 
hour  passed  by  in  this  labor,  it  seemed  as  though  nothing  had 
been  done,  so  constantly  were  we  met  with  the  cry,  accompanied 
by  such  a  piercing  look  as  only  a  wounded  man  can  give,  "  0 
Doctor,  won't  you  do  something  for  me?"  Go  where  we  would, 


350  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

on  every  hand,  in  that  spacious  house,  in  the  numerous  tents  and 
outhouses,  and  laid  all  over  the  yard,  were  the  suffering,  the 
mutilated,  the  dying  and  the  dead. 

Exhausted,  we  sat  down  to  rest  a  few  moments.  In  my  pocket 
I  found  some  hard  bread,  which  was  duly  divided.  Dr.  P. 
objected  against  my  robbing  myself,  but  I  insisted  that  in  our 
captivity  we  should  share  alike.  It  then  became  a  matter  of 
interest  to  find  how  much  money  could  be  raised  between  us,  for 
who  could  tell  how  long  our  captivity  would  last  ?  But  again 
the  suffering  soldiers  called  for  help.  After  this,  Major  Pickett, 
Inspector  General  on  Hardee's  staff  went  round,  taking  the  names 
of  the  wounded  soldiers  for  parole.  Dr.  Pierce  inquired  of  him 
as  to  the  prospect  of  our  being  able  to  return  to  our  former  hos 
pital,  where  we  supposed  we  should  find  the  wounded  of  our  own 
regiment,  for  whom  we  felt  the  greatest  responsibility  and  inter 
est.  He  replied  that  at  any  time  we  desired  to  go  he  would  fur 
nish  us  with  a  pass.  We  continued  at  work  about  an  hour 
longer,  still  uncertain  whether  all  this  ground  might  not  be 
fought  over  again.  But  at  last,  being  convinced  that  for  that  day, 
at  least,  all  likelihood  of  such  a  thing  was  past,  Dr.  Pierce  pro 
cured  the  requisite  pass,  and  he  on  his  horse  and  I  on  foot, 
retraced  the  ground  we  crossed  in  the  morning. 

The  field  was  strewn  with  dead  horses,  saddles,  harness,  parts 
of  artillery  carriages,  and  not  a  few  of  our  soldiers,  who  had 
died  where  they  fell.  In  a  few  moments  we  arrived  at  Hospital 
Harding,  and  if  there  had  been  any  lingering  doubt  as  to  our 
duty,  it  would  have  been  instantly  dispelled  by  the  hearty  wel 
comes  which  made  the  old  house  ring.  To  every  wounded  man 
the  well-known  face  and  voice  of  Dr.  Pierce,  in  whose  skill  every 
one  that  knew  him  had  confidence,  was  peculiarly  cheering.  It 
was  now  as  we  passed  from  room  to  room,  that  we  began  to  real- 


SCENES    IN    HOSPITAL.  351 

ize  the  fearful  slaughter  which  the  obstinate  struggle  of  the  36th 
against  overpowering  numbers  had  cost.  It  was  sad,  too,  to  con 
clude  that  many  of  these  must  die.  The  slightly  wounded  had 
either  escaped  before  the  enemy  came  up,  or  had  been  marched 
to  Murfreesboro ;  those  that  remained  being  nearly  all  severely, 
and  many  of  them  mortally  wounded.  Dr.  Pierce  declared  their 
wounds  the  worst,  as  a  class,  that  he  had  ever  seen.  In  a  cor 
ner  of  one  room  was  a  ghastly  sight.  Three  men  lay  dead  and 
another  was  dying.  They  had  been  brought  in  from  the  field 
and  laid  there  and  their  wounds  given  some  attention,  when  a 
cannon  ball  from  one  of  our  guns  struck  the  house,  piercing  the 
siding  and  washboard  just  above  the  floor,  crossing  the  corner  of 
the  room,  and  glancing  on  the  washboard  of  the  other  side,  broke 
off  two  legs  of  the  pianoforte.  In  the  corner,  between  the  two 
washboards,  lay  the  four  men,  who  all  lost  their  lives  by  that  one 
shot.  The  old  man  of  the  house,  on  having  the  sight  pointed 
out  to  him,  remarked,  "  It  is  a  great  pity  to  have  the  piano 
broken  !" 

But  there  was  no  time  to  be  wasted,  for  with  the  utmost 
despatch,  many  hours  must  elapse  before  all  of  them  could  receive 
even  slight  attention.  I  devoted  myself  to  handing  water  to  the 
thirsty,  and  in  preparing  the  men  to  have  their  wounds  dressed ; 
as  it  commonly  takes  much  more  time  to  take  off  clothing,  &c., 
than  to  dress  the  wound  itself.  At  the  time  we  were  enclosed 
by  the  enemy  at  the  upper  hospital,  there  stood  a  box  nearly 
filled  with  sanitary  goods,  chiefly  such  as  were  necessary  for  the 
wounded  ;  this  box,  of  course,  became  Confederate  property, 
there  being  great  lack  of  such  stores  in  Secessia,  We  thought 
there  would  now  be  a  general  lack  for  our  wounded,  as  we  were 
effectually  cut  off  from  all  our  supplies. 

Dr.  P.  seized  the  opportunity  to  step  up  to  the  box  and  take 
from  it  a  small  bundle  of  lint  and  a  large  piece  of  cotton  cloth, 


352  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

which,  whilst  assisting  him,  I  employed  myself  in  tearing  into 
bandages,  and  having  made  them  into  rolls,  filled  my  pockets 
with  them.  They  were  now  found  of  great  value.  One  of  the 
surgeons  of  the  21st  Michigan  was  present  with  his  medicine 
case.  It  was  necessary,  also,  to  send  out  parties  to  bring  in  the 
wounded,  who  in  large  numbers  still  lay  where  they  fell.  Another 
party,  at  the  head  of  which  was  Chaplain  Thomas,  of  the  88th 
Illinois,  was  engaged  in  preparing  soup  from  such  scraps  of  meat 
as  could  be  found  in  the  house  and  in  the  haversacks  of  the  men. 
And  thus  the  work  went  on. 

As  the  afternoon  wore  away,  straggling  officers  and  men  from 
the  Confederate  army  began  to  gather  in  the  yard,  partly  to  see 
us  and  our  sad  charge,  to  talk  about  the  battle,  give  vent  to 
their  feelings  generally,  and  to  see  what  could  be  picked  up  in 
the  way  of  loose  property;  for  U.  S.  was  known  to  clothe  and 
"fix  up  "  his  army  pretty  well,  and  C.  S.  found  it  profitable  to 
make  various  requisitions  upon  him.  At  this  time  an  officer 
drew  a  valuable  horse.  "  Prince  "  was  a  noble  animal,  bought 
by  Dr.  Pierce  in  Kentucky.  For  a  long  time  after  the  enemy 
came  up  he  was  held  by  the  halter  for  fear  some  one  would  take 
him  off.  On  bringing  him  down  to  our  hospital,  he  was  hitched 
to  one  of  the  outbuildings.  A  Colonel  came  round  inquiring 
where  he  could  find  a  horse,  as  he  had  two  shot  under  him  dur 
ing  the  day.  His  attention  was  soon  directed  to  "Prince,"  but 
no  one  could  give  any  information  about  him — except  ourselves. 
Dr.  P.  removed  the  saddle,  carried  the  blankets  into  the  house, 
and  tried  to  make  some  arrangements  with  the  owner  to  have 
him  stabled.  In  a  little  while  the  Colonel  returned — the  old 
man  had  told  him  who  owned  the  horse — insisted  on  receiving 
the  paddle,  also,  and  then  rode  him  off.  Subsequently  Dr.  P. 
had  his  blankets  and  overcoat  taken  ;  nothing  seemed  safe  from 


CAKING   FOR   THE   WOUNDED.  353 

their  thieving  hands.  With  me  it  was  "blessed  be  nothing." 
I  had  only  my  overcoat  that  could  be  stolen,  and  that  I  kept  on 
all  the  time  I  was  not  asleep. 

About  sundown,  wearied  and  hungered,  we  looked  for  some 
thing  to  eat.  The  cooks  had  found  a  small  quantity  of  corn 
meal  and  fat  pork.  So  there  was  pork  and  mush  for  supper.  We 
had  about  twenty  wounded  soldiers  as  nurses  and  helps,  and  it 
was  evident  that  a  more  thorough  organization  was  necessary  in 
order  to  an  equal  division  of  labor,  and  that  nothing  might  be 
neglected.  T  therefore  suggested  that  Dr.  Pierce,  who  was  the 
ranking  surgeon,  should  be  placed  in  charge,  and  that  we  all 
should  consider  ourselves  under  his  command.  This  was  at  once 
acceded  to,  and  Dr.  Pierce  immediately  called  together  all  the 
nurses,  &c. ;  stated  to  them  their  duties,  divided  them  into  reliefs, 
and  placed  a  non-commissioned  officer  to  see  that  every  man  per 
formed  his  assigned  duty.  For  the  first  twenty-four  hours  they 
worked  almost  incessantly,  waiting  on  the  wounded  and  also 
bringing  them  in  from  the  field — stragglers  from  the  Confeder 
ate  army  continually  coming  in  to  tell  us  where  our  men  were 
lying.  At  last,  when  we  could  do  no  more,  and  every  building 
was  full,  fires  were  built  in  the  woods,  and  the  remaining  wounded 
were  carried  and  placed  near  them  for  the  night. 

In  the  evening,  while  busily  engaged  with  the  wounded,  we 
were  visited  by  some  officers  connected  with  a  battery  stationed 
in  the  cornfield  above.  After  a  little  conversation  about  the  con 
dition  of  our  wounded  men,  they  commenced  a  discussion  upon 
the  points  of  difference  between  the  two  sections.  This  they 
were  all  anxious  to  do  on  every  possible  occasion  that  offered.  I 
do  not  know  but  the  same  was  true  of  our  officers  with 
the  prisoners  that  fell  into  their  hands.  I  am  very  much  of  the 
opinion  of  "Autocrat,"  in  the  Atlantic  Monthly.  "  It  is  fair 


354  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

"to  take  a  man  prisoner.  It  is  fair  to  make  speeches  to  a  man. 
"  But  to  take  a  man  prisoner  and  then  make  speeches  to  him 
"is  NOT  fair." 

On  this  occasion  they  commenced  by  assuming  that  the  whole 
purpose  of  the  war  was  the  destruction  of  slavery,  and  that  it 
originated  in  the  unwillingness  of  the  North  to  allow  them  their 
rights  under  the  Constitution.  I  explained  to  them  my  own 
position  ;  that  I  regarded  slavery  as  a  local  institution,  to  be 
regulated  by  the  people  of  each  State  for  themselves,  and  that  I 
never  had  any  disposition,  as  I  believed  I  had  no  right,  to 
interfere  with  slavery  in  the  States  where  it  was  established,  and 
that  the  masses  of  the  Northern  people  regarded  the  subject, 
before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  precisely  the  same  light, 
although  interested  newspapers  and  politicians  had  succeeded  in 
making  the  Southern  people  believe  otherwise.  That  Mr.  Doug 
las — whom  none  could  accuse  of  prejudice  against  the  South — 
declared  in  his  last  speech  that  the  rights  of  the  South  were 
never  so  safe  as  they  were  at  the  time  of  the  rebellion,  and  that 
this  was  corroborated  by  the  fact  that  according  to  the  census  of 
1860,  fewer  fugitive  slaves  had  escaped  from  those  States  between 
the  years  1850  and  1&60,  than  during  the  previous  ten  years. 

These  statements  they  did  not  deny,  but  replied  that  we  had 
refused  them  their  just  rights  in  the  common  Territories.  To 
this  I  answered  that  whether  slavery  should  or  should  not  be 
admitted  into  Territories  belonging  to  the  whole  nation,  was  not 
decided  by  the  constitution,  but  like  thousands  of  other  ques 
tions  arising  under  it,  must  be  decided  by  the  votes  of  the  peo 
ple  ;  that  when  the  voice  of  the  people  has  been  made  known  in 
proper  form,  their  decision  was  binding  on  the  whole  until  it  was 
changed  by  the  same  authority  ;  otherwise  there  was  no  free  gov 
ernment.  That  a  majority  at  the  election  in  1860  decided  that 


NEW  YEAR'S  EVE.  355 

slavery  should  not  be  extended  into  the  Territories  ;  that  if  the 
position  of  the  South  was  correct,  they  ought  to  have  striven  to 
enlighten  the  nation  and  influence  public  sentiment,  so  that  at 
some  future  election  the  verdict  might  have  been  reversed.  But 
when  instead  of  this  they  sought  to  break  up  the  Government 
itself,  the  question  was  changed.  It  was  not  so  much  whether 
slavery  shall  or  shall  not  be  tolerated  in  the  Territories,  as 
whether  the  voice  of  a  majority,  constitutionally  expressed,  shall 
be  binding  upon  the  minority — that  is,  whether  we  shall  have  a 
free  government  at  all,  for  it  can  only  exist  on  the  principle  that 
the  will  of  the  majority,  constitutionally  expressed,  must  prevail. 

To  this  argument  they  not  only  made  no  reply,  but  attempted 
none,  going  of  into  another  vein — that  the  South  thought  it 
more  to  her  interest,  arid  could  acquire  greater  wealth  to  separate 
than  to  continue  in  the  Union. 

Just  at  this  point  the  calls  of  some  wounded  men  required  my 
attention,  and  when  I  returned,  our  visitors  thought  it  necessary 
to  return  to  their  quarters,  and  bade  us  good  evening.  When 
we  had  made  all  necessary  arrangements  for  the  night,  detailing 
nurses  for  each  room,  &c.,  the  Chaplain  of  the  88th  and  I  spread 
some  borrowed  blankets  on  the  floor  and  tried  to  sleep.  But  for 
a  long  time  sleep  fled  my  eyes  ;  the  past  day  seemed  more  like  a 
month,  when  measured  by  events  and  especially  by  the  contrast 
between  my  feelings  and  anticipations  in  the  morning,  and  our 
actual  condition  at  night.  This  was  New  Year's  Eve,  such  an  one 
as  I  had  never  before  seen.  Our  army,  from  which  so  much  had 
been  confidently  expected,  had  not  only  been  checked,  but  if  the 
report  of  the  enemy's  officers  could  be  relied  on,  was  in  immi 
nent  danger  of  total  destruction,  being  entirely  cut  off  from 
Nashville,  and  its  immense  train  of  stores  captured.  Coming 


356  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

as  this  did  closely  upon  the  heels  of  the  Fredericksburgh  dis- 
.  aster,  from  which  the  people  had  not  yet  recovered,  what  des 
pondency  might  be  expected  to  fill  every  loyal  heart,  and  what 
exultation  the  hearts  of  traitors !  Would  it  be  surprising  if 
foreign  nations,  after  waiting  to  give  us  time  to  bring  our 
augmented  army  into  the  field,  should  now  conclude  that  the 
work  we  had  attempted  was  too  great,  and  that  the  South 
had  fairly  earned  her  recognition  ?  And  then  it  was  the  eve  of 
the  day  appointed  for  the  President's  Proclamation  ;  would  he 
issue  it  ?  And  if  he  did,  would  it  not,  under  existing  circum 
stances,  injure  the  cause  it  was  designed  to  help  ?  A  mighty 
weapon  when  proclaimed  by  a  victorious  army,  would  it  exhibit 
anything  but  impotent  rage  when  heralded  by  disaster  and 
defeat  ?  These  were  the  questions  that  would  rush  through  my 
mind,  pressed  home  by  the  events  of  the  day,  and  made  increas 
ingly  emphatic  by  the  groans  of  the  wounded,  which  never 
ceased  for  a  moment  through  all  that  sad  and  restless  night. 

But  knowing  how  much  depended  upon  our  husbanding  our 
strength,  I  strove  hard  to  banish  these  intruding  thoughts,  an 
effort  which  for  a  short  time  proved  successful.  For  three  or 
four  hours  I  forgot  alike  the  sorrows  of  the  past  and  the  fore 
bodings  of  the  coming  day. 

Thursday,  Jan.  ls£,  1863. — At  home  my  ears  would  have 
been  saluted  by  the  cheery  welcome,  "  Happy  New  Year!"  but 
this  morning,  the  only  sounds  I  could  hear  were  the  cries  or 
suppressed  moans  of  wounded  men.  On  rising,  the  first  inform 
ation  I  received,  was  that  nine  men  had  died  during  the  night. 
I  received  into  my  care  such  articles  of  value  as  had  not  been 
taken  from  them  by  the  enemy  on  the  field,  and  which  their 
friends  would  prize  highly  if  we  should  ever  be  so  fortunate  as 
to  return  to  our  own  lines.  I  succeeded  this  morning  in  finding 


SEARCHING   FOR    RATIONS.  357 

water  for  a  wash,  a  blessing  I  prized  highly,  my  hands  and  face 
being  innocent  of  any  contact  with  that  element  since  Monday 
morning. 

Perhaps  it  was  because  of  my  presentable  appearance  arising 
from  my  ablution,  that  Dr.  Pierce  requested  me  to  undertake  the 
task  of  finding  rations  for  our  hospital.  We  had  then  upwards 
of  a  hundred  wounded,  besides  a  number  of  nurses ;  not  a  few 
were  still  out  on  the  battle-field,  and  must  be  brought  in  to  such 
accommodations  as  we  could  provide — and  yet,  for  the  whole 
there  was  only  to  be  found  a  few  pounds  of  cornmeal.  No  time 
was  to  be  lost,  and  so,  armed  with  the  pass  given  us  the  day 
before,  and  which  in  the  sequel  proved  a  friend  indeed,  I  started 
on  my  mission,  not,  however,  without  some  appreciation  of  its 
perilous  nature. 

Making  my  way  first  to  the  battery  in  the  corn-field,  I  found 
the  officer  who  visited  us  the  previous  evening  in  command.  He 
did  not  know  to  whom  we  could  go  for  supplies ;  the  Generals 
were  out  in  the  field  and  I  could  not  go  to  them — thought  that 
my  best  plan  was  to  go  in  the  direction  of  Murfreesboro,  where 
I  should  find  some  of  their  hospitals,  and  probably  one  of  their 
surgeons  would  draw  rations  for  us,  at  least  he  would  be  able  to 
direct  me  how  to  proceed. 

Following  these  directions,  my  track  lay  through  the  woods 
where  a  portion  of  the  fighting  had  been.  It  was  sad  to  see, 
scattered  around,  the  bodies  of  those  who  had  fallen  the  day 
before,  and  that  sadness  was  not  relieved  by  noticing  that  they 
had  been  stripped  of  whatever  clothing  was  considered  sufficiently 
valuable  to  be  carried  off.  It  is  a  fact  too  plain  to  be  denied 
that  Southern  soldiers  not  only  took  the  clothing  of  our  pris 
oners,  but  stripped  the  wounded  and  dead.  Indeed,  to  an  extent 
really  surprising,  the  clothing  of  their  army  was  obtained  from  us, 


358  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and  so  numerous  are  the  blue  overcoats  in  their  ranks  that  our 
men  were  often  prevented  from  firing  upon  them,  supposing  them 
to  be  Union  soldiers. 

After  walking  about  a  mile,  I  came  to  a  large  house  which  had 
been  used  as  a  Confederate  hospital  the  day  before.  Most  of 
the  wounded,  however,  had  been  removed  into  Murfreesboro, 
arid  there  was  no  surgeon  left.  There  seemed  no  alternative 
but  to  go  forward,  and  as  I  had  often  found  it  both  wiser  and 
pleasanter  to  deal  with  principals  than  subordinates,  I  deter 
mined  to  go  at  once  to  Gen.  Bragg's  headquarters,  and  lay  our 
situation  before  him.  I  had  scarcely  resumed  my  journey  when 
there  came  over  me  such  a  sense  of  the  loneliness  of  my  situa 
tion  personally,  and  of  the  woe  and  misery  through  which  for  a  few 
hours  I  had  been  passing,  that  for  a  few  moments  I  was  almost 
unmanned.  I  never  before  felt  such  force  in  the  words  fre 
quently  used,  "  a.  stranger  in  a  strange  land,"  for  I  never  before 
had  drawn  a  single  breath  under  a  hostile  flag.  Then  came  the 
thoughts  of  home  ;  the  dread  suspense  the  loved  ones  there 
would  endure  while  waiting  for  the  full  details  of  the  battle — 
which  even  then  would  not  be  relieved  by  finding  iny  name 
among  the  missing,  but  perhaps  would  have  to  be  endured  for 
weeks  or  months  before  my  true  situation  could  be  made  known 
to  them.  Against  these, thoughts  it  was  hard  to  stand  up,  and 
for  a  moment  I  felt  as  though  it  would  be  a  relief  to  sit  down 
and  weep. 

But  the  remembrance  of  the  mass  of  wounded  men,  and  how 
much  depended  upon  my  exertions,  came  to  my  rescue,  and  with 
a  quicker  step  and  stouter  heart  I  hastened  on.  All  along  the 
way  I  met  numerous  squads  of  soldiers,  who  inquired  the  loca 
tion  of  their  different  regiments  and  divisions.  Fortunately  I 
was  taken  all  along  for  one  of  their  own  surgeons,  perhaps 


THE  ENEMY'S  FORTIFICATIONS.  359 

because  of  my  shabby  appearance  generally,  for  when  they 
took  me  prisoner  every  convenience  for  personal  adornment 
was  left  within  our  lines,  and  the  enemy  very  unceremoniously 
allowed  me  no  opportunity  to  procure  them.  I  was,  therefore, 
"not  lo  put  too  fine  a  point  upon  it,"  decidedly  shabby,  and 
perhaps  for  that  reason,  if  not  for  my  lean  and  professional 
look  (!),  was  taken  for  one  of  themselves,  their  army  as  a  whole 
being  more  remarkable  for  some  other  things  than  for  its  external 
appearance.  I  carefully  studied  the  ground  as  I  went  along,  to 
judge  of  the  degree  of  difficulty  we  would  have  found  in  enter 
ing  Murfreesboro,  had  our  right  wing  maintained  its  posi 
tion,  for  it  would  have  fought  over  this  precise  ground.  The 
country  presented  but  a  continuation  of  the  same  features  as  that 
which  constituted  the  battle-field — alternate  strips  of  timber  and 
open  country,  each  of  which  probably  would  have  been  stoutly 
contested.  •  On  reaching  their  picket  line  I  presented  my  pass, 
and  although  it  was  given  for  an  entirely  different  purpose,  it 
was  not  questioned,  but  the  officer  gave  me  all  the  information 
in  his  power.  On  arriving  at  Stone  river  I  found  the  bridge 
destroyed.  Rails  were  thrown  in  on  which  footmen  could  cross, 
but  the  ford  for  teams  was  very  bad,  the  banks  on  each  side 
being  steep  and  rocky. 

This  position  could  have  been  stoutly  held  against  our  men,  as 
it  would  have  been  very  difficult  to  cross  with  artillery,  and  the 
opposite  bank,  beside  being  steep,  was  covered  with  huge  rocks, 
forming  a  natural  fortification,  behind  which  sharp-shooters  could 
operate  with  almost  perfect  impunity.  Just  before  entering  the 
town  itself,  I  came  upon  a  line  of  rifle-pits,  prepared  to  defend 
the  approach  from  this  side.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  town 
there  were  no  defenses  at  all,  and  it  is  evident  that  Rosecrans 
was  fully  informed  of  all  this  ;  hence  his  decision  to  swing  his 


360  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

left  into  Murfreesboro,  while  the  right  was  simply  to  hold  the 
ground,  and  thus  make  the  advantages  the  enemy  possessed  on 
the  route  I  have  been  describing  of  no  effect.  His  plan  was 
admirable,  and  richly  deserved  success. 

After  passing  the  rifle-pits,  I  came  upon  an  encampment  at 
the  edge  of  the  town.  Thinking  this  would  be  a  good  place  to 
find  a  surgeon,  I  enquired,  and  was  pointed  to  one  immediately. 
I  told  him  frankly  my  situation  and  errand,  and  asked  for  any 
directions  which  his  knowledge  of  their  army  regulations  might 
enable  him  to  give  me.  He  treated  me  with  a  good  deal  of 
courtesy,  told  me  to  apply  to  Major  Hilly er,  Chief  Commissary 
on  Bragg's  staff,  who,  he  assured  me,  would  not  fail  to  make 
every  necessary  provision  for  our  wounded. 

After  a  little  desultory  conversation,  he  insisted  on  my  remain 
ing  until  he  could  make  me  acquainted  with  their  Chaplain. 
We  had  a  few  moments  of  very  pleasant  interchange  of  thought. 
He  was  a  Protestant  Methodist,  and  I  should  judge  a  sincere 
and  conscientious  man.  Despite,  however,  all  our  efforts  to 
steer  clear  of  the  painful  subject,  the  conversation  would  turn 
on  the  war  and  the  battle  of  yesterday.  I  found  that  some  of 
their  best  men  had  fallen,  particularly  the  Colonel  of  the  5th 
Georgia,  whose  body  they  were  just  preparing  to  send  home. 
Considering  that  the  victory  was  already  won,  they  stated,  what 
probably  they  would  have  been  less  ready  to  say  could  they  have 
foreseen  the  final  result,  that  Bragg's  reputation  had  suffered  a 
great  deal  since  the  battle  of  Perryville  and  his  evacuation  of 
Kentucky  ;  that  in  consequence  he  had  determined  "to  whip  at 
this  fight,  or  lose  the  last  man;"  that  all  the  Generals  and  men 
under  him  felt  as  he  did,  and  even  the  citizens  partook  of  the 
same  spirit,  hence  the  victory  of  yesterday.  I  have  often  won 
dered  since  how  they  felt  when  Bragg,  after  fighting,  was  com- 


CONCERNING  MURFREESBORO.  361 

pelled  to  abandon  a  large  portion  of  Tennessee,  precisely  as 
after  Perry ville  he  abandoned  Kentucky. 

The  crushing  depression  which  was  felt  at  the  South  after  the 
surrender  of  Murfreesboro  shows,  however,  that  my  acquaint 
ances  reflected  truly  the  prevailing  public  sentiment. 

At  the  time  I  called  upon  the  doctor,  the  camp  table  was  spread 
for  breakfast.  As  I  turned  away  and  hastened  forward  into 
town,  the  hour  of  day  (it  was  about  nine  o'clock),  my  tedious 
walk,  the  sharp  air  (there  had  been  a  keen  frost),  with  perhaps 
a  few  grains  of  generosity,  all  combined  on  an  empty  stomach 
to  form  in  me  a  distinct  resolution — shall  I  tell  you  what  it 
was  ? — that  if  ever  I  should  find  a  Confederate  officer  in  a  posi 
tion  similar  to  mine  that  morning,  I  would  certainly  ask  him  to 
eat  with  me. 

Murfreesboro  was  a  rather  pleasantly  located  city  of  a  few 
thousand  inhabitants,  considered  quite  an  important  place  in  the 
South,  but  not  larger  than  many  of  the  thriving  towns  to  be 
found  on  the  lines  of  our  railroads,  of  which  Sandwich  might  be 
named  as  an  example.  The  most  important  building  was  a  neat 
and  substantial  court  house  in  the  public  square.  It  was  built 
of  brick,  surmounted  by  a  cupola  with  a  clock  attached.  The 
city  stood  on  a  knoll,  at  the  foot  of  which  ran  a  creek,  and  close 
by  was  the  railroad  and  depot.  As  I  passed  up  the  hill  into 
town,  I  met  numbers  of  slightly  wounded  men  who  enquired  the 
way  to  the  depot.  They  were  to  be  removed  probably  to 
Chattanooga. 

On  arriving  at  the  public  square  I  found  a  long  line  of  our 
men,  who  had  been  taken  prisoners,  marching  off.  probably  to  the 
Chattanooga  depot.  The  court  house  yard  was  also  full  of  them. 
As  soon  as  I  came  near  I  was  saluted  by  the  cry,  "  Why,  Chap- 
"  lain,  are  you  a  prisoner  too  ?"  I  approached  to  find  what  num- 

24 


362  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

ber  of  the  boys  was  there,  but  the  guards  interfered,  and  would 
allow  no  conversation.  My  mind  was  too  much  absorbed  in  the 
urgent  business  that  brought  me  to  town  to  allow  me  to  pause, 
so,  exhorting  the  boys  to  "keep  up  good  heart,"  I  passed  on. 

When  I  had  time  to  reflect  upon  it,  I  sincerely  regretted  that 
I  had  not  used  a  little  of  that  ingenuity  which  soldiers  know  how 
to  practice,  and  thus  ascertained  the  names  of  the  prisoners  con 
nected  with  the  regiments  from  our  own  section,  which  would 
have  enabled  me  to  relieve  the  dreadful  suspense  of  friends  who 
read  that  some  loved  one  was  "  missing." 

After  some  inquiry,  I  found  the  quarters  of  Major  Hyllier. 
Just  as  I  stepped  in  he  was  calling  to  some  friend  in  the  next 
room  to  look  at  the  line  of  prisoners  as  they  passed  by.  "See," 
said  he,  in  a  gleeful  tone,  "what  a  string  of  Yankees  !'  It  was 
somewhat  embarrassing  to  introduce  myself  and  business  at  such 
an  unlucky  moment,  but  I  must  do  the  Major  justice  to  say  that 
he  appeared  quite  as  much  embarrassed  by  the  circumstance  as  I 
was,  and  that  his  readiness  to  forward  my  object,  and  the  kind 
attention  he  showed  me  throughout,  went  far  to  atone  for  the 
seeming  breech  of  military  courtesy.  (It  is  a  point  of  honor  with 
fine  military  men,  to  abstain  from  all  appearance  of  triumph  over 
those  who  may  be  so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  their  hands.)  He 
said  he  should  be  glad  to  supply  me  with  food  necessary  for  our 
hospital,  but  that  it  would  be  necessary  first  to  procure  an  order 
from  Brig.  Gen.  Brown,  Commander  of  the  Post,  and  that  I  could 
find  him  at  the  court  house. 

In  a  few  moments  I  was  at  the  General's  quarters,  and  agam 
presented  my  pass  and  made  known  my  errand.  The  General 
said  that  as  soon  as  the  battle  now  pending  was  decided,  they 
would  make  permanent  provision  for  the  wounded,  that  they 
hoped  to  have  a  supply  of  hard-bread,  rice,  beef,  &c.,  and  such 


ENEMY'S  SUPPLY  or  PKOVISIONS.  363 

food  as  was  most  suitable  for  the  sick  ;  that  in  the  meantime  if 
we  could  make  such  rations  as  they  issued  to  their  soldiers  answer 
our  purpose,  he  would  supply  me  with  enough  for  one  day.     I 
told  him  the  wants  of  the  men  were  urgent,  and  therefore  I  should 
accept  whatever  he  could  do  for  them.      His  Adjutant  made  out 
an  order  for  one  hundred  rations,  and  finding  I  had  no  means  of 
transportation,  he  told  me  that  if  the  commissary  could  not  sup 
ply  me  with  a  team   and  wagon,  I  might  return,  and  he  would 
make  provision.     Returning  to  Major  Hyllier,  he  countersigned 
the  order  and  sent  me  to  the  Post  Commissary  at  the  depot.     I 
had  some   difficulty  in  finding  the  officer,  and  my  attention  was 
thereby  directed  to  the  conclusive  evidences  that  everything  had 
been  arranged  beforehand  for  an  evacuation,  should  it  prove  to 
be  necessary.       The  rooms  occupied  by  all  the  officers  I  had  yet 
seen  were  bare  of  furniture,   and  had  the  appearance  of  being 
used  only  for  a  temporary  purpose.    No  one  seemed  able  to  inform 
me  where  the  Post  Commissary's  office  was,  and  when  found,  it 
proved  to  be  the  warehouse  of  a  business  firm,  used  only  tempo 
rarily.     The  supply  of  provisions  on  hand  for  such  an  army  was 
very  small,  and  a  large  portion  of  it  was  on  the  cars,  on  the  track, 
ready  to  be  run  off  at  a  moment's  notice.      Close  by  were  also 
a  number  of  cars,   loaded  with  brass  field  pieces  and  carriages, 
while  the  haste  with  which  the  slightly  wounded  and  the  prisoners 
were  being  taken  off  was  also  suspicious. 

I  read  in  all  this  that  they  had  not  been  by  any  means  sure  of 
their  position  previous  to  the  battle ;  but  I  did  not  suppose  that 
they  would  yet  be  obliged  to  use  all  these  facilities  for  [making 
their  escape.  And  yet  I  noticed  particularly  that  while  the  citi 
zens  were  very  jubilant  over  their  victory,  the  military  invariably 
spoke  of  the  conflict  as  being  undecided. 

The  Commissary  received  me  courteously,  and  seemed  anxious 
to  do  all  in  his  power  to  help  me.  While  waiting  to  have  the 


364  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

order  filled,  a  citizen  entered  the  store  with  a  copy  of  the  morn 
ing  paper,  "  Murfreesboro  Rebel  Banner"  about  the  size  of  a 
tolerable  hand-bill,  the  paper  being  what  we  would  think  rather 
inferior  wrapping  paper,  and  only  printed  on  one  side.  It  pro 
fessed  to  give  an  account  of  the  previous  day's  battle.  It  seemed 
that  military  men  were  not  allowed  to  subscribe  for  a  copy,  and 
as  it  was  only  published  for  civilians  semi-occasionally,  the  people 
did  not  suffer  very  keenly  the  evils  resulting  from  a  free  press. 

Those  in  the  office  gathered  around,  the  citizen  reading  aloud. 
He  had  read  just  about  far  enough  to  give  the  number  of  killed 
and  wounded  on  their  side,  together  with  the  general  effect  of 
the  battle  on  themselves,  when  I  noticed  one  whisper  to  him, 
evidently  informing  him  that  a  "Yankee"  was  present.  He 
immediately  stopped,  and  it  was  amusing  to  see  the  expedients  he 
adopted  to  find  out  which  was  he.  He  asked  some,  and  having 
ascertained  which  were  not,  naturally  concluded  that  I  was  the 
person. 

He  was  anxious  then  to  see  the  order  I  had  brought,  which 
was  lying  on  the  desk,  and  on  finding  out  its  purport,  wondered 
(loud  enough  for  me  to  hear)  "  how  long  such  things  were  to 
last."  At  intervals  he  gave  us  a  piece  of  his  mind,  gloating  over 
Jeff.  Davis'  proclamation  against  Butler,  just  issued,  and  longing 
for  the  time  when  the  hanging  on  the  first  limb  should  commence. 
All  this,  of  course,  was  for  my  particular  benefit,  and  I  could 
not  resist  the  conviction,  as  he  every  little  while  looked  askance 
at  me,  that  it  would  have  afforded  him  extreme  gratification  to 
make  me  the  first  victim.  I  simply  folded  my  arms  and  took  it, 
but  I  inwardly  rejoiced  that  I  had  dealt  with  principals  instead 
of  subordinates,  and  thus  was  safe  from  all  interference.  The 
Commissary  found  it  impossible  to  provide  transportation.  I 
therefore  reported  the  fact  to  Gen.  Brown. 


RATIONS   FINALLY   OBTAINED.  365 

I  could  see  that  it  was  extremely  inconvenient  to  spare  a  team 
at  that  time,  when  all  their  resources  were  taxed  to  the  utmost — 
but  he  nevertheless  gave  me  an  order  on  the  Quarter-master  for 
a  conveyance.  While  the  order  was  being  written  he  made  a  few 
enquiries  as  to  what  State  I  was  from,  &c.,  and  remarked  that  he 
had  two  relatives  in  the  Northern  army,  one  a  minister,  and,  I 
think,  a  Chaplain.  On  reporting  to  the  Quarter-master,  I  was 
again  an  object  of  curiosity  to  the  hangers-on,  but  my  order  was 
imperative,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  six-mule  team,  with  an  officer 
to  accompany  me,  was  at  my  disposal.  We  returned  to  the  Com 
missary's,  loaded  the  rations,  and  started  for  the  hospital.  The 
wagon  was  marked  U.  S.,  and  had  evidently  been  captured  at 
some  time  from  our  forces,  and  that  not  long  since,  for  inside 
were  pieces  of  hard-bread,  showing  that  it  had  been  used  for 
carrying  provisions.  The  sight  of  the  hard-bread  was  really 
pleasant,  reminding  one  of  our  old  friend,  Uncle  Samuel  ;  and 
the  taste,  to  one  who  had  not  broken  his  fast,  was  not  bad.  The 
officer  who  convoyed  the  team  was  a  true  gentleman.  On  the 
way  we  had  quite  an  interesting  conversation,  and  I  found  him 
both  candid  and  reasonable,  more  so  than  any  one  with  whom  I 
came  in  contact  while  within  their  lines.  He  performed  his  duty 
so  pleasantly  that  I  shall  always  remember  him  with  gratitude, 
and  have  only  regretted  that  I  did  not  learn  his  name. 

Our  blockade  was  so  strict  that  they  were  cut  off  from  all  articles 
of  fancy  manufacture,  and  even  their  officers  smoked  pipes  made 
of  wood,  corn-cobs,  or  roots.  Among  the  articles  belonging 
to  boys  who  were  dead,  were  some  rather  neat  pipes  which  we 
had  no  means  of  preserving,  but  which  would  be  stolen  by  strag 
glers.  I  selected  the  best  one,  and  gave  it  to  this  gentleman,  as 
the  only  article  within  reach  by  which  we  could  express  our 
appreciation  of  his  kindness.  He  received  it  with  much  pleas- 


366  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

ure,  and  when  we  parted  he  extended  his  hand  with  all  the  warmth 
of  old  friendship. 

My  prolonged  absence  had  given  rise  to  the  suspicion  that 
perhaps  I  had  been  "gobbled  up."     My  return,  therefore,  after 
a  successful  mission,  was  a  pleasant  surprise.     It   was   certainly 
time  for  breakfast,  being  noon,  if  not  after.      Some  fat  pork  was 
fried,  and  pancakes  made  of  flour  and  water,   which   were  eaten 
with  a  relish.     I  am  happy  also  to  say,  a  posteriori,  that  I  suf 
fered    no   harm   therefrom,   a  result  which,   a  priori,   I  should 
scarcely  have  considered  possible,  for  if  you   suppose  that  they 
were  anything  like  what  usually   pass   under  the  name  of  pan 
cakes,  you  are  certainly  mistaken.     They  were  only  equalled  by 
some  biscuits  which  we  had  for  several  days,  and  which   it  was 
suggested  should  be  tried  by  some  one  before  the  rest  ventured 
on  them,  for  fear  of  fatal  results.     It  is  saying  a  great  deal  for 
that  wonderful  organ,  the  stomach,  when  I  announce  that  we  all 
survived  the  hazardous  experiment  of  eating  them.     During  the 
day  an  additional  number  of  the  wounded  were  brought  up,  and 
as  there  was  no  more  accommodation  in  the  building,  they  were 
wrapped  in  their  blankets  and  laid  in  the  yard,   and  large  fires 
built  near  them.     It  was  now  absolutely  necessary  to  take  a  list 
of  the  names,  as  several  had  died  already  whose  names  we  could 
not  find.     This  work  devolved  on  me.     In  addition  to  the  name, 
regiment,  and  location  of  the  wound  of  each  man,  I  determined 
also  to  take  the  name  and  post  office  address   of  his  friends.     It 
was  indeed  a  laborious   task.     The   condition  of  many   made  it 
very  difficult  to  converse ;  many  were  foreigners,  whose  pronun 
ciation  of  names  it  was  sometimes  impossible  to  understand,  and 
required  the  aid  of  an  interpreter,   while  many  seemed  so   con 
fused  with  their  sufferings  that  even  such  simple  enquiries  were 
answered  with  difficulty.     One  man  could  not  remember  for  some 


ANOTHER    EVENING    DISCUSSION.  367 

time  the  name  of  the  place  where  his  friends  lived,  although  he 
knew  quite  well  the  county  and  State.  One  case  was  peculiarly 
painful.  In  due  course  I  came  to  a  young  man  who  evidently 
could  not  live  long.  He  gave  me  his  name,  company  and  regi 
ment,  then  his  father's  name.  He  hesitated  about  the  post  office 
address  ;  I  asked  him  again,  but  he  gave  no  answer.  I  looked 
up ;  he  was  dying ;  he  had  spoken  for  the  last  time,  in  a  few 
moments  he  was  gone. 

In  the  evening  the  officers  who  visited  us  the  night  before  came 
again,  accompanied  by  others.   They  were  in  high  glee.   Their  forces 
were  certainly  between  us  and  Nashville.       Wheeler's  cavalry, 
which  we  had  seen  go  out  in  the  morning,  was  operating  on  our 
rear;  our  provision  trains,  numbering  hundreds  of  wagons,  had 
fallen  into  their  hands  !  the  victory  was  certainly    theirs,    and 
they  should   enter   Nashville    at    once !     External    appearances 
favored  these  reports,  and  we  began  to  credit  them,  and  supposed 
that  we  were  in  for  a  lengthened  captivity.     We  imagined  that 
the  force  which  still  kept  up  occasional  firing  with  the  enemy  was 
a  strong  guard  to  hold  them  in  bay  until  Rosecrans  could  draw 
off'  his  main  force,  or  else  to-day's  comparative  rest  was  prepara 
tory  to  another  vigorous  and  probably  decisive  struggle  to-morrow. 
Again  our  visitors  commenced  the  discussion  of  our  sectional 
differences.     Their  new  companion,  also  a  captain  of  a  battery, 
took  the  most  prominent  part.     He  was  evidently  a  well  educated 
man,  and  a  fluent  speaker.     He  was  principally  to  be  remem 
bered  for  his  fierce  denunciations  of  Gen.  Butler,  whom  he  named, 
as  did  the  South  generally,  "Beast  Butler,"  and  whom  he  could 
scarcely  tolerate  that  we  should  call  by  his  official  title. 

For  hours  that  night  I  laid  awake  imagining  the  dread  disasters 
which  this  unfortunate  campaign  had  brought  upon  our  cause. 
In  fact  I  experienced,  in  their  full  effect,  the  measures  by  which 


368  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  Southern  army  was  encouraged  to  believe  in  the  ultimate  tri 
umph  of  their  cause.  Admitting  the  simple  truth  would  dispel 
a  large  share  of  their  illusions. 

Friday,  January  2nd,  1863. — Rose  at  daylight.  Several 
more  had  died  during  the  night.  After  breakfast,  resumed 
the  work  of  taking  names.  Before  noon  a  number  of  officers 
came  in,  telling  us  with  great  glee  that  our  train  was  certainly 
captured,  that  Gen.  Davis  was  killed,  and  that  our  forces  had 
been  repulsed  at  Vicksburg  and  driven  back  to  their  boats. 
Indeed  our  situation  appeared  more  and  more  gloomy.  At  the 
same  time  we  judged  from  occasional  firing  that  our  forces  were 
moving  more  to  their  right,  and  were  certainly  not  retreating, 
which  to  us  was  unaccountable.  Officers  rode  around,  some  of 
whom  held  council  with  Harding,  the  owner  of  the  house,  and 
for  several  hours  he  was  busy  gathering  up  whatever  loose  prop 
erty  he  could,  and  manifested  great  anxiety  to  get  away,  as  he 
said,  to  Murfreesboro. 

During  the  day,  movements  of  the  enemy's  lines  seemed  to  us 
to  indicate  falling  back,  and  had  we  known  the  exact  condition  of 
our  army  it  would  have  been  easy  to  interpret  the  different 
occurrences  of  the  day.  About  noon  a  Confederate  officer  arrived 
to  parole  in  due  form  all  of  our  men,  whether  wounded  or  not. 
On  the  first  afternoon  they  had  been  required  to  swear  not  to 
take  up  arms,  but  according  to  the  terms  of  the  cartel  it  was  nec 
essary  that  each  man  should  receive  a  printed  parole  as  evidence 
of  the  transaction.  Assisted  by  one  of  the  surgeons,  this  work 
proceeded  all  the  afternoon,  and  was  not  completed  until  twelve 
o'clock  at  night.  At  the  time  it  appeared  strange  that  the  work 
was  thus  hurried  when  we  were  entirely  in  their  power.  In  the 
sequel,  however,  their  haste  was  perfectly  intelligible. 


ftOSECRANS'    CANNONADE.  869 

About  three  o'clock  I  finished  my  list  and  myself  together. 
The  intense  excitement  of  the  past  few  days  was  subsiding, 
our  hospital  was  gradually  assuming  an  air  of  order,  and  I 
began  to  realize  that  I  was  flesh  and  blood.  For  the  first  time 
I  sat  down  and  rested  awhile.  About  four  o'clock  commenced  a 
most  fearful  cannonade  on  the  left  of  our  lines,  accompanied  with 
heavy  musketry.  If  Rosecrans  was  cut  off  and  his  army  well- 
nigh  destroyed,  it  was  evident  that  his  spirit  was  undaunted. 
Indeed,  all  his  movements  were  mysteries  to  us.  The  furious 
fighting  continued  until  after  dusk.  In  the  evening,  just  before 
dusk,  a  number  of  us  were  standing  out  in  the  yard,  when  a  ball 
from  one  of  Our  Parrott  guns  came  whistling  over  us.  What 
could  it  mean  ?  It  was  evident  that  our  lines  were  advancing, 
and  were  probably  not  much  more  than  a  mile  away.  At  last  we 
concluded  it  was  a  friendly  message,  telling  us  to  keep  up  cour 
age  and  all  would  yet  be  well. 

My  time  had  hitherto  been  almost  exclusively  occupied  in 
efforts  to  supply  the  temporal  wants  and  alleviate  the  sufferings 
of  the  men.  As  occasion  presented,  I  had  spoken  to  one  and 
another  of  the  precious  Savior,  who  alone  could  give  true  com 
fort  ;  but  anything  like  connected  effort  was  out  of  the  question. 
And  yet  something  must  be  done.  That  evening,  therefore,  I 
went  into  some  of  the  rooms,  where  it  was  most  convenient,  and 
spoke  a  few  words  of  earnest  invitation  to  come  to  Christ  and 
accept  his  pardoning  mercy.  May  they  prove  to  have  been  words 
in  due  season. 

This  evening  the  officers  from  the  battery  gave  us  another  call. 
They  seemed  quite  perplexed  with  Rosecrans'  movements.  They 
said  that  Gens.  Polk  and  Hardee  and  others  had  been  all  day  on 
an  eminence  whence  they  could  overlook  our  lines,  and  they 
reported  great  activity  on  our  right,  wagons  moving  and  troops 


370  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

marching.  Indeed  their  Generals  were  as  much  perplexed  by 
the  movements  of  our  army  as  we  were.  According  to  all 
accounts  their  provisions  were  cut  off,  and  according  to  all  the 
ordinary  rules  of  warfare  Rosecrans  ought  to  have  been  looking 
for  his  "lines  of  retreat "  and  "base  of  supplies,"  instead  of 
which  he  was  holding  on  desperately  to  his  position,  and  refused 
to  retreat.  Our  visitors  had  evidently  an  inkling  of  what  was 
passing  in  their  own  lines,  for  they  said  it  would  not  be  surpris 
ing  if  within  the  next  twenty-four  hours  we  should  occupy  this 
ground.  "We  may  retire,"  they  said,  "but  if  we  do,  it  will  only 
be  to  fight  you  again  when  you  are  still  further  removed  from 
your  supplies,  and  still  more  open  to  attacks  in  your  rear." 

One  of  our  number  unwisely  allowed  himself  to  be  led  into  a 
dispute  as  to  the  barbarities  said  to  be  committed  by  both  armies. 
Such  discussions  at  best  are  unprofitable,  for  often  things 
occured  which  no  man  of  integrity  would  justify,  and  any  attempt 
to  arrive  at  the  merits  of  the  question  in  dispute  by  bringing  up 
the  conduct  of  either  army  was  simply  foolish.  Crime,  lawless 
ness,  cruelty,  are  the  inseparable  concomitants  of  war,  and  those 
who,  by  striking  down  the  national  emblem,  brought  on  this  war, 
should  have  counted  beforehand  its  fearful  cost.  In  the  heat  of 
the  dispute,  while  "Beast  Butler"  was  unmercifully  condemned 
by  the  one  and  Gen.  Butler  was  upheld  by  the  other,  a  personal 
encounter  seemed  for  a  few  moments  nearly  inevitable.  But  by- 
and-by  the  subject  changed,  the  works  of  nature  and  art  came  up 
for  discussion.  The  principal  speaker  was  a  well  educated  man 
with  a  good  deal  of  taste  and  refinement,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  evening  was  passed  as  pleasantly  as  though  we  had  all  been 
friends  for  years  and  were  gathered  in  some  social  parlor. 

To  give  you  a  clue  to  the  animus  of  the  South,  other  portions 
of  the  conversation  may  be  worth  recording.     While  the  wordy 


HATRED  OF  THE  YANKEES.  371 

duel  was  going  off,  and  some  statement  was  made  by  one  and 
denied  by  the  other,  said  the  disputant  on  our  side,  "  I  will  bet 
you  a  can  of  oysters  on  it,  and  you  will  be  coming  some  time  to 
Detroit  and  then  we  will  eat  them." 

"  I  come  to  Detroit  ?"  was  the  answer,  "never,  sir,  unless  I 
go  there  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  No,  sir,  we  do  not  want  to  have 
anything  to  do  with  you.  Give  us  our  independence,  and  we 
will  never  set  foot  on  your  soil." 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  in  language  the  utter  contempt 
they  (the  officers)  feel  for  u  the  Yankees,"  and  their  furious 
determination  never  to  have  anything  more  to  do  with  them. 
We  enquired  whom  they  called  Yankees. 

"  We  call  all  Federals  Yankees,  now  ;  but  strictly  we  do  not 
include  Northwestern  men.  Yankees  really  are  the  men  from 
New  England,  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and  we  think  that 
one  of  our  men  is  as  good  as  three  of  them,  any  time." 

"  What  do  you  think,  then,  of  Northwestern  men?"  we  said. 

u  Oh,  we  find  it  hard  enough  to  take  man  for  man  of  them. 
We  have  great  respect  for  the  N.  W.  men." 

All  day  the  wind  had  been  blowing  from  the  South,  threaten 
ing  a  rain  storm.  We  had  about  forty  of  our  wounded  laid  out 
in  the  yard,  with  huge  fires  to  keep  them  warm.  It  was  evident 
that  some  other  arrangement  must  be  made.  By  re-arranging 
the  various  rooms,  removing  furniture,  &c.,  the  largest  part  were 
put  under  shelter,  and  for  the  rest  we  gathered  all  the  shelter 
tents  we  could  find.  We  had  scarcely  finished  setting  them  up 
when  the  storm  fairly  set  in.  It  contributed  no  little  to  a  quiet 
night's  refreshing  sleep  to  know  that  the  poor  fellows  were  not 
lying  in  the  drenching  rain. 

Saturday,  Jan.  3d,  1863. — The  rain  which  had  been  falling 
all  night  still  continued,  giving  everything  a  gloomy  and  com- 


372  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

fortless  appearance.  But  "  it  is  an  ill  wind  that  blows  nobody 
any  good,"  and  even  this  storm  proved  a  blessing.  It  supplied 
us  with  good,  soft  water.  One  of  the  greatest  disadvantages  of 
our  position  at  this  hospital  was  the  want  of  good  water.  There 
was  a  well,  to  be  sure,  but  the  enemy's  battery  camped  near  by 
appropriated  that  to  themselves,  leaving  us  no  alternative  but  to 
draw  our  supply  from  a  pond  at  a  distance,  which,  besides  being 
so  far  off  and  thus  taxing  the  overworked  nurses  to  procure  it, 
afforded  only  the  poorest  description  of  water.  So  much,  too, 
was  required  to  quench  thirst,  that  much  washing  was  out  of  the 
question.  This  morning,  however,  we  had  a  large  barrel  of  pure, 
soft  water  ;  the  battery  had  disappeared  during  the  night,  leaving 
us  the  undivided  possession  of  the  well.  The  nurses,  as  the 
result  of  their  being  regularly  relieved,  were  recovering  from 
their  fatigue,  and  were  now  contemplating  plans  for  the  perma 
nent  rather  than  (as  heretofore  was  necessary)  the  temporary 
comfort  of  their  wards.  The  first  thing  done  was  to  have  every 
man  wash,  at  least  his  hands  and  face. 

The  moral  effect  of  this  was  remarkable.  Men  with  an  arm 
broken  or  injured  began  to  practice  what  would  be  to  many  of 
them,  poor  fellows,  a  life-long  lesson,  of  helping  themselves  with 
the  other,  and  felt  better  by  the  effort.  Their  attention  was 
occupied  and  turned  off  from  the  contemplation  of  their  pain  and 
misfortunes,  and  as  a  consequence  they  Became  more  cheerful  and 
contented.  Some  of  the  wards,  where  the  nurses  were  particu 
larly  hopeful,  were  completely  transformed,  and  though  my  heart 
was  weighed  down  by  sorrow,  I  strove  in  every  way  to  cheer  up 
the  men  and  strengthen  their  courage.  But  when  every  improve 
ment  possible  was  made  in  our  situation,  I  came,  unconsciously 
to  myself,  to  feel  that  it  was  a  happy  lot  when  men  were  killed 
outright  upon  the  field,  and  thus  saved  the  lingering  tortures  and 


GENERALS  POLK  AND  CHEATHAM.  373 

numberless  trials  of  an  extemporized  hospital  within  the  enemy's 
lines.  By  dint  of  crowding,  and  several  having  died,  we  succeeded 
in  getting  all  safely  under  cover,  and  the  yard  for  the  first  time 
was  clear. 

During  the  forenoon  Gens.  Polk  and  Cheatham  called  at  the 
house.  They  conversed  for  some  time  with  Dr.  Pierce.  Speak 
ing  of  the  battle  and  of  the  army  opposed  to  himself,  Gen.  Polk 
remarked,  u  I  have  had  the  honor  of  fighting  Gen.  McCook 
before  ;  I  think  he  will  have  reason  to  remember  me."  They 
enquired  if  we  had  everything  we  needed  ;  if  not,  they  would  do 
their  best  to  supply  us.  Dr.  Pierce  replied  that  our  small  stock 
of  medicines  was  giving  out,  and  we  needed  an  additional  supply. 
"Oh,"  said  he,  uyour  people  have  blockaded  our  ports  so  that 
we  cannot  obtain  medicines.  You  ought  to  have  thought  that 
you  were  liable  to  fall  into  our  hands,  and  might  need  them." 
We  heard  very  little  those  days  about  a  "  paper  blockade." 

About  noon,  by  order  of  these  Generals,  twenty-five  men  were 
brought  from  a  hospital  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  off,  and  placed 
in  the  barn  and  cotton-gin.  They  had  been  from  one  to  three 
days  on  the  battle-field,  and  then  been  removed  to  the  hospital 
yard  where  they  had  lain  ever  since.  Most  of  their  wounds  had 
not  been  touched,  except  what  they  had  done  for  themselves.  A 
considerable  part  of  the  time  they  had  been  without  food,  and  to 
complete  the  sad  list  of  their  sufferings  they  had  been  out  in  this 
soaking  rain  all  night  and  so  far  of  the  day.  As  I  looked  at 
them,  shivering  with  cold  and  writhing  with  pain,  vainly  striving 
to  gather  a  little  warmth  from  their  soaked  blankets,  I  could  but 
wonder  that  they  lived  at  all.  Indeed,  some  did  not.  One  was 
dying  as  he  was  lifted  from  the  wagon,  and  another  never  mani 
fested  consciousness,  but  died  in  a  few  hours. 


374  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  place  to  which  they  were  brought  was  enough  to  fill  them 
with  despair.  The  barn  was  built  of  huge  logs,  without  chink 
ing,  and  the  cold  wind  rushed  in  while  the  rain  leaked  through 
the  roof.  The  cotton-gin  was  a  dryer  but  even  colder  place,  and 
in  either  of  them  an  Illinois  farmer  would  think  it  hard  for  his 
horse  to  stand  on  such  a  day.  Dr.  Pierce  summoned  his  assist 
ants,  and  they  proceeded  at  once  to  dress  every  man's  wounds, 
while  I  took  his  name  and  description.  They  were  chiefly  from 
Negley's  Division,  Indiana  and  Kentucky  troops.  A  number  of 
Confederate  soldiers  crowded  around,  some  of  whom  gave  them 
a  portion  of  their  none  too  ample  rations,  while  others  piled 
cotton  upon  those  who  suifered  most  from  the  cold.  One  nurse 
was  left  with  them,  while  Dr.  Pierce  and  I  started  off  to  the  large 
hospital  to  procure  additional  nurses,  and  some  food  more  appro 
priate  than  any  we  had  for  men  in  such  reduced  condition. 

On  the  way  we  picked  up  a  good  frying  pan  off  the  battle 
field,  and  as  we  needed  cooking  utensils  very  much,  we  were  glad 
to  carry  it  along.  On  arriving  at  the  hospital  it  was  with  diffi 
culty  we  could  persuade  three  men  to  undertake  the  care  of  our 
new  cases,  until  one,  finding  that  I  had  a  list  of  the  wounded, 
inquired  very  earnestly  after  a  brother,  who  he  knew  was  wounded, 
but  whom  he  had  vainly  sought  in  every  direction.  On  refer 
ring  to  my  list,  I  found  that  his  brother  was  one  of  the  unfor 
tunate  ones  just  brought  into  the  cotton-gin.  He  was  overjoyed 
at  the  information,  and  gladly  volunteered,  with  two  others,  to 
accompany  us ;  and  I  must  say  that  they  did  their  duty  to  their 
charge  day  and  night,  alleviating  suffering  not  a  little.  After 
procuring  a  few  pounds  of  hard-bread,  which  was  all  within  reach, 
we  returned  to  our  quarters,  and  night  settled  down  upon  us, 
with  the  rain  still  falling,  but  the  wounded  better  cared  for  than 
before,  indeed,  better,  for  the  facilities  we  had,  than  any  hospital 
in  the  vicinity. 


REBELS    ENTIRELY    DISAPPEARED.  375 

During  the  day  I  had  several  interesting  conversations  with 
some  of  the  wounded,  whom  I  found  under,  as  I  believe,  real  con 
viction  of  sin,  which  had  burdened  their  minds  long  before  the 
battle.  Such  cases  were  very  common  in  the  army,  and  should 
encourage  Christians  both  to  pray  and  to  labor.  One  of  the 
cases  I  met  was  a  young  man  whose  mother  was  a  Christ 
ian,  and  as  I  spoke  to  him  the  tears  began  to  flow,  and  he  told 
me  he  had  been  anxious  for  some  time,  and  if  it  could  only  be 
told  his  mother  that  he  was  a  real  Christian,  it  would  be  all  his 
desire.  But  both  he  and  another,  notwithstanding  their  religious 
training,  were  seeking  to  fit  themselves  to  come  to  Christ,  and 
scarcely  seemed  to  credit  the  thought  that  they  must  come  then 
and  come  as  sinners;  and  yet  their  evident  sincerity  led  me  to 
hope  that  this  error,  so  natural  to  a  sinner  under  conviction, 
would  be  quickly  laid  aside,  and  they  would  embrace  Christ  as 
.ieir  all-sufficient  Savior. 

Sunday,  Jan.  5th. — The  rain  stopped  during  the  night,  and  a 
beautiful  day,  such  as  gives  us  some  idea  of  the  u  Sunny  South," 
broke  upon  us  in  the  morning.  The  first  fact  which  attracted  the 
attention  of  all  was  that  the  rebels  had  entirely  disappeared. 
Those  who  had  been  awake  all  night  said  that  their  wagons  and 
artillery  had  been  moving  for  hours,  and  just  at  break  of  day 
Wheeler's  Cavalry  filed  past,  going  towards  Murfreesboro,  and 
from  that  time  not  even  a  straggling  soldier  was  to  be  seen.  We 
thought  this  was  a  "change  of  base,"  but  did  not  allow  ourselves 
to  be  sufficiently  elated  to  suppose  it  was  an  actual  retreat.  And 
yet  all  the  morning  we  kept  remarking  to  each  other  how  quiet 
everything  was,  and  how  strange  that  not  a  single  Confederate 
was  left. 

On  rising  that  morning  I  resolved,  if  possible,  to  hold  a  short 
religious  service  in  each  room,  that  those  who  were  capable  of 


376  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

attention  might  be  benefitted.  With  this  view  I  revolved  in  my 
mind  a  few  thoughts  suggested  by  the  wounded  Israelites  look 
ing  to  the  brazen  serpent,  which  I  hoped  might  prove  in  season 
to  some  of  these  afflicted  ones.  Dr.  P.  also  encouraged  the 
effort,  but  in  going  the  rounds,  I  found  that  the  care  which  every 
man  needed  in  having  his  wounds  dressed  once  a  day,  would  make 
any  services  impracticable  until  afternoon.  And  as  there  was 
nothing  to  be  done  for  the  men  that  others  could  not  do  as  well 
and  even  better  than  myself,  I  felt  that  the  time  had  come  when, 
without  neglecting  public  duty,  I  could  seek  to  relieve  my  anxiety 
for  the  fate  of  my  brothers,  I  had  confidence  that  Henry,  hav 
ing  my  horse,  and  being  an  old  soldier,  would  be  able  to  take  care 
of  himself;  but  there  were  two  others  belonging  to  the  Railroad 
Regiment,  in  Johnson's  Division,  about  whose  welfare  I  felt  a 
painful  anxiety.  The  day  before,  when  such  a  number  of  shiv 
ering,  wounded  men,  all  soaked  with  the  rain,  were  brought  into 
the  cotton-gin,  I  could  not  but  think,  what  if  my  two  brothers 
had  been  lying  day  and  night  exposed  to  this  storm,  and  perhaps 
neglected  by  some  inhuman  surgeon  !  And  yet  I  could  not  recon 
cile  it  with  my  duty  to  leave  those  who  had  a  right  to  look  to  me 
for  help,  until  I  saw  them  as  well  cared  for  as  under  the  circum 
stances  was  possible.  But  this  having  been  done,  I  seized  the 
first  moment  to  start  in  search  of  the  hospital  and  ground  near 
which  Johnson's  Division  had  operated.  The  large  house  to  the 
northwest,  with  rows  of  tents  surrounding  it,  was  occupied  chiefly 
with  the  wounded  of  Davis'  Division,  while  Johnson's  were  in 
houses  and  barns  still  farther  to  the  west.  After  careful  search,  I 
found  one  man  from  the  Railroad  Regiment  there,  who  could 
answer  many  of  my  inquiries  and  who  assured  me  of  the  safety 
of  both  my  brothers.  This  information  afterwards  proved 
incorrect  with  regard  to  one  of  them,  who  was  taken  pris- 


EVIDENCES    OF   CARNAGE.  377 

oner,  but  for  the  time  my  anxiety  was  allayed.  In  going  from 
tent  to  tent  I  found  the  list  of  wounded  more  precious  than  gold, 
as  I  was  able  to  answer  the  inquiries  of  not  a  few,  and  my  book 
was  looked  upon  by  the  boys  as  though  there  was  a  charm  about  it. 
Before  the  day  closed  I  came  to  the  conviction  that  next  in  import 
ance  to  feeding  these  poor  fellows  and  dressing  their  wounds  was 
the  procuring  of  a  correct  and  minute  list  of  all  who  came 
under  one's  care.  Finding  that  some  of  the  89th  with  whom  I 
was  acquainted  were  dangerously  wounded  and  were  lying  in 
buildings  further  to  the  west,  I  set  out  to  find  them. 

Leaving  the  house,  I  started  in  the  direction  pointed  out,  which 
led  me  over  a  portion  of  the  ground  occupied  by  Davis'  and  John 
son's  Divisions.  Near  by  was  a  long  row  of  dead,  gathered  dur 
ing  the  last  few  days,  and  an  immense  grave  was  being  dug  for 
their  burial.  Every  moment  I  came  upon  fresh  evidences  of  the 
fearful  storm  that  had  swept  over  these  fields  and  through  these 
groves. 

Mangled  horses  were  strewn  in  every  direction,  while  the  dead, 
more  or  less  stripped  of  their  clothing  by  the  enemy  lay  where 
they  fell  on  that  fatal  morning.  After  searching  for  a  long  dis 
tance  and  failing  to  find  the  hospitals  to  which  I  had  been  directed, 
I  concluded  that  my  informant  was  mistaken ;  and  as  the  time  I 
could  be  spared  had  nearly  expired  and  I  was  unmistakably  weary 
with  my  tramp,  I  retraced  my  steps  as  quickly  as  possible  to 
Hospital  Harding.  A  circumstance  we  all  thought  very  notice 
able  was,  that  I  had  not  seen  a  single  "  butternut  "  the  whole 
morning;  but  the  time  had  arrived  when  the  mystery  which 
hung  over,  not  only  the  conduct  of  the  enemy,  but  the  opera 
tions  of  both  armies  since  our  capture,  was  to  be  suddenly 
and  delightfully  dispelled.  We  had  just  seated  ourselves  at  din 
ner  in  an  outhouse,  which  served  the  manifold  purpose  of  dining- 


378  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

room,  cookhouse,  storehouse  and  general  rubbish  receptacle,  and 
had  begun  to  eat  what  was  set  before  us,  when  one  of  the  boys 
ran  in  with  the  exciting  intelligence  that  our  cavalry  had  emerged 
from  the  woods  and  were  advancing  towards  us.  Dinner  was 
left,  and  out  we  went  to  see  the  sight,  and  sure  enough,  there 
they  came,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  advancing  slowly  and  peer 
ing  in  every  direction  to  find  the  retreating  foe.  Murfreesboro 
was  evacuated !  But  still,  though  we  could  understand  the 
disappearance  of  the  enemy  from  all  about  us  for  the  past  twen 
ty-four  hours,  yet  how  Bragg,  who,  according  to  what  had  been 
told  us,  had  been  operating  so  successfully  in  our  rear,  capturing 
our  trains,  and  every  few  hours  doing  some  new  and  wonderful 
thing  in  the  way  of  damaging  Rosecrans,  should  find  it  necessary 
to  retreat,  and  Rosecrans,  who  had  been  harassed  at  every 
hand,  who  was  without  food  and  ammunition  and  well-nigb 
destroyed,  should  be  the  victor,  and  march  unopposed  into  Mur 
freesboro,  remained  to  be  explained. 

But  on  came  the  "blue  coats,"  and  in  a  few  minutes  we 
exchanged  glad  greetings  with  our  Union  brethren.  Who  they 
were  or  from  what  State  they  came  it  mattered  not ;  they  were 
the  representatives  of  our  country,  of  all  that  was  dear  to  humanity 
in  the  present,  and  hopeful  in  the  future.  And  none  can  tell  how 
good  for  the  eyes  and  the  heart  was  the  sight  of  the  lovely  stars 
and  stripes,  and  the  blue  uniform  of  our  men,  to  those  who 
had  been  compelled  to  see  flaunting  in  their  faces  the  emblem  of 
tyranny,  and  to  meet  at  every  turn  the  loathed  and  detested 
"  butternut "  uniform. 

Our  line  was  only  about  a  mile  away  from  us,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  several  boys  had  started  for  the  regiment  to  tell  of  our 
condition  and  learn  the  news.  The  excitement  among  the 
wounded  was  most  intense,  and  men  forgot  their  sufferings  in  the 


ANXIETY    FOR    COMRADES.  379 

triumph  of  our  arms.  It  was  not  long  before  numbers  of  our 
boys,  who  had  been  lying  out  day  and  night  keeping  the  foe  at 
bay,  rushed  to  the  hospital  to  see  their  comrades  still  living  and 
to  learn  about  the  dead.  Every  room  was  crowded,  and  such 
shouting  and  shaking  of  hands,  such  a  wild  mixture  of  emotion, 
must  be  seen  and  felt  to  be  comprehended.  For  a  while  a 
stranger  would  have  taken  Hospital  Harding  for  an  extemporized 
lunatic  asylum,  and  I,  for  one,  felt  I  had  important  qualifications 
for  an  inmate.  But  who  could  be  staid  and  sober  amid  such 
scenes  ?  Here  were  men  driven  back  by  overwhelming  numbers 
from  a  hard-fought  field,  and  compelled  to  leave  their  comrades 
in  the  enemy's  hands.  From  that  moment  they  had  been  unable 
to  obtain  any  definite  information  regarding  them.  Who  were 
but  slightly  wounded,  and  who  mortally,  they  could  only  con 
jecture,  and  heavy  had  been  their  hearts  day  and  night.  How 
they  rushed  from  room  to  room  !  and  as  they  caught  sight  of 
some  well  known  face,  finding  some  alive  who  were  reported  dead, 
that  old  building  resounded  with  their  shouts.  On  the  other 
hand,  here  were  the  suffering  and  the  mutilated,  who,  after  the 
most  heroic  bravery,  had  fallen,  only  to  see  their  comrades  driven 
back,  leaving  them  not  only  in  the  hands  of  the  foe,  but  in  a 
state  of  dread  suspense  as  to  the  results  of  the  whole  campaign. 

Day  and  night  they  had  lain  in  their  agony,  aggravated  by 
the  flying  stories  the  self-deceived  Confederates  brought  in  from 
day  to  day.  But  now,  for  the  first  time,  they  learned  the  truth  : 
how  Sheridan,  though  compelled  to  retire  to  avoid  annihilation, 
had  checked  again  and  again,  four  times,  the  advancing  tide, 
saved  time  for  reinforcements  to  arrive  and  change  the  fortunes 
of  the  day,  thus  indelibly  inscribing  his  name  upon  the  history 
of  his  country  ;  how  when  sad  at  heart  with  the  loss  of  their 
companions,  and  the  check  on  the  right,  the  cheery  voice  of 


380  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Rosecrans  would  be  heard  ringing  out  often  in  the  stillness  of 
the  night,  as  he  moved  from  place  to  place,  ordering  everything 
himself,  and  seeing  with  his  own  eyes  that  it  was  done  ;  how  his 
tone  and  whole  manner  inspired  confidence  of  final  success,  as 
he  taught  not  only  Generals  and  Colonels  but  privates  how  to 
use  their  guns  and  snatch  victory  from  the  very  jaws  of  defeat ; 
how  on  that  memorable  Friday  afternoon,  when  the  friendly  shot 
came  whistling  over  our  building,  he  had  massed  his  men  and 
guns  so  rapidly  and  with  such  skill  that  in  forty  minutes  the 
enemv  was  driven  back  a  broken  and  confused  mass,  leaving  two 
thousand  slain  upon  the  field.  When  all  these  truths  were  related, 
we  might  be  pardoned  for  our  excitement  and  joy.  Indeed,  we 
could  tell  the  feelings  of  the  ancient  Jews  when  they  sung, 
"  When  the  Lord  turned  again  the  captivity  of  Zion,  we  were 
like  them  that  dream,  then  was  our  mouth  filled  with  laughter, 
and  our  tongue  with  singing.  The  Lord  hath  done  great  things 
for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad."  Never  was  language  more  fitly 
used  than  when  our  heroic  General  closed  his  account  of  the  bat 
tle,  not  with  self-gratulation,  but  with,  "  Nbn  nobis  Domine,  non 
nobis,  sed  nomini  tuo  da  gloriam" — "Not  unto  us,  0  Lord,  not 
unto  us,  but  unto  Thy  name  give  glory." 

All  idea  of  religious  services  which  had  been  contemplated  in 
the  morning  was  laid  aside.  It  was  imperatively  necessary  that 
a  correct  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  should  be  immediately 
prepared  and  despatched  North,  that  the  dreadful  suspense  of 
friends  at  home  might  be  relieved,  as  well  as  incorrect  accounts 
be  rectified.  In  a  little  while  Dr.  Swift,  the  Department  Medi 
cal  Director  called  to  ascertain  the  number  in  our  charge  and 
what  supplies  we  needed.  He  also  requested  that  a  list  might 
be  forwarded  at  once  to  headquarters. 


THE   PRECIOUS   LIST.  381 

This  work,  of  course,  devolved  on  me  ;  but  in  spite  of  every 
effort  my  progress  was  tedious  and  slow,  and  interruptions  were 
momentary.  First  we  learned  that  a  mail  would  speedily  be 
made  up  for  Nashville,  and  the  Doctor  and  I  could  not  lose  the 
opportunity  of  sending  a  line  to  relieve  anxiety  at  home.  Then 
Henry  arrived,  and  I  could  not  postpone  listening  to  his  story. 
As  the  afternoon  wore  away,  officers,  privates,  cavalry-men, 
artillery-men,  infantry,  friends  and  strangers,  trooped  into  the 
enclosure,  and  as  I  had  the  only  list,  they  rushed  into  the  room 
where  I  was,  shouted  through  the  back  window  or  through  a 
broken  pane  in  front,  that  they  might  learn  the  fate  of  men, 
comrades  or  relatives.  Again  and  again  did  I  search  through 
my  long  list,  my  answers  sometimes  leaving  the  questioner  still 
in  doubt,  sometimes  lighting  up  his  face  with  joy,  sometimes 
crushing  out  the  last  hope  from  his  heart.  One  case  I  shall 
never  forget.  A  young  man  who  seemed  to  act  as  orderly  to 
some  officer,  came  up  to  the  window  to  make  enquiries  about 
some  near  friend,  I  believe  a  brother,  who  had  been  wounded  on 
our  portion  of  the  field.  As  I  turned  over  leaf  after  leaf,  he 
was  very  nervous,  saying  that  he  was  afraid  he  could  not  stay; 
and  still  as  I  found  no  trace,  he  said  he  must  leave,  and  started 
off.  I  had  a  lingering  impression  that  I  had  met  with  the  name 
mentioned,  so  I  continued  my  search.  Just  before  he  got  out  of 
sight  round  one  of  the  buildings,  I  found  it,  and  immediately 
called  out  to  him,  "It  is  here."  With  face  lighted  up  with  joy, 
and  with  buoyant  steps  he  hastened  back  to  the  window,  but  no 
sooner  had  I  turned  my  eye  once  more  to  the  page,  that  I  might 
give  him  the  particulars,  than  it  caught  the  fatal  announcement, 
"  Died  "  on  such  a  day.  I  hesitated  a  moment,  as  he  stood  with 
wistful  look,  waiting  for  me  to  speak,  for  how  could  I  dash  his 
hopes  at  one  stroke  ?  Then,  as  gently  as  possible,  I  broke  to 


382  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

him  the  sad  news.  I  saw  on  the  instant  a  change  in  his  coun 
tenance,  hope  die  out  of  his  young  heart,  and  he  stood  for  a 
moment  stunned  by  the  blow.  Then  recollecting  that  duty 
called  him,  with  a  gentleness  that  I  never  saw  surpassed,  he 
said,  "  Thank  you,  sir,"  and  hastened  away. 

I  never  saw  him  before  and  have  never  seen  him  since.  Our 
whole  interview  was  not  longer  than  two  or  three  minutes,  but 
in  the  few  words  he  spoke,  and  in  the  changing  aspects  of  his 
youthful  face,  I  thought  I  could  read  his  story.  I  thought  of  a 
home  somewhere  in  some  State,  in  city  or  in  country,  but  wher 
ever  it  was,  one  where  affection  reigned,  and  where  the  gentle  influ 
ence  of  a  loving  mother  had  proved  so  strong  that  cruel  war  had 
only  bound  its  ties  the  closer,  and  made  the  heart,  while  yearn 
ing  for  the  lost  one,  even  grateful  for  the  news  which  relieved 
suspense,  though  it  crushed  the  last  hope. 

The  remainder  of  the  afternoon  and  evening  I  pursued  my 
task,  till  weary  eyes  and  aching  head  compelled  me  to  pause  for 
rest. 

Monday  Morning,  Jan.  5th. — We  were  called  up  early  in  the 
morning  by  the  arrival  of  a  surgeon  in  charge  of  forty  ambu 
lances  for  the  purpose  of  removing  all  the  transportable  wounded 
to  Nashville.  For  several  hours  all  was  bustle  and  confusion 
while  these  mutilated  men  were  being  prepared  for  their  long 
and  painful  ride.  That  morning  I  had  another  conversation 
with  the  young  man  mentioned  in  a  previous  letter.  He  seemed 
still  waiting  to  better  himself  before  coming  to  Christ.  I  shall 
never  forget  his  earnest  look  as  I  repeated  to  him  the  verse  com 
mencing,  "  Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea."  He  said  he  had 
never  seen  the  subject  in  that  light  before — and  I  hoped  that  the 
true  light  had  shined  into  his  soul.  I  found  a  fragment  of  a 
soldier's  hymn-book  lying  near,  and  on  examination  found  that 


SPIRIT    OF   THE    CONTRABANDS.  383 

it  contained  the  whole  of  that  beautiful  hymn.  This  I  placed 
in  his  hands  just  before  he  was  lifted  into  the  ambulance.  I 
have  not  seen  him  since. 

When  Mr.  Harding  removed  his  family  from  the  plantation, 
just  before  the  battle,  he  took  his  negroes,  numbering  about 
fifty,  leaving  two  or  three  to  preserve  what  they  could.  The 
negroes  were  quite  shrewd,  and  took  care  not  to  commit  them 
selves  except  where  it  was  safe  to  do  so — but  none  could  doubt 
for  a  moment  their  hearty  sympathy.  One  of  them  using  in  my 
hearing  the  expression,  *'  our  army,"  "  I  pray  which  is  your 
army?"  said  I.  "Oh,  de  Norf,"  said  he,  "we's  all  for  de Norf. " 
To  show  their  spirit  I  cannot,  perhaps,  do  better  than  give  you 
a  conversation  which  Dr.  Pierce  overheard.  He  entered  the  cabin 
known  among  the  black  people  of  the  place  as  "  Aunt  Car'line's 
house,"  and  among  us  as  Ward  No.  5.  He  found  an  interesting  and 
exciting  colloquy  in  progress  which  had  been  started  by  Tom,  a 
wild,  rollicking  boy  of  about  twelve  years,  with  important  orders. 
He  said  he  was  stopped  at  Murfreesboro,  as  he  was  coming  back 
from  the  other  plantation,  where  the  servants  of  Mr.  Harding 
had  been  sent  for  safety,  by  the  order  of  Col.  Somebody,  who 
had  detained  all  the  rest  of  the  company  and  sent  him  for  those 
who  were  at  the  old  place. 

"  La  me,"  said  Aunt  Car'line,  "  I  never  was  in  sich  bothera 
tion  in  all  my  life.  I'se  been  brought  up  in  sich  a  kinder  guv- 
'nment  dat  I  hates  to  be  gwine  off  till  I'se  seed  all  de  parties. 
Now  ef  I  could  only  jes'  see  ole  Missus,  and  she  was  agreeable, 
I'd  go  quick  enough.  To  tell  de  truf,  I  dun  know  what  to  do." 

"  Well,"  says  Tom,  "  dem's  de  orders.  De  Kurnel  sent  me 
up  to  tell  you'ns  to  come  down  to  town  ;  dat  you  wer'nt  to  work 
any  more  for  ole  Massa  Harding,  'case  he's  secesh." 

"  0  la  !  what  shall  I  do  ?  What  will  become  of  ole  Missus  ? 
her  as  I  used  to  nurse — if  she  was  only  agreeable.  I  tell  you 


384  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

I'se  not  dat  kind  of  pusson  dat  runs  away  from  her  ole  missus." 
"  Look'e  here,"  says  an  old  man,  the  husband  of  Caroline,  a 
patriarch  among  the  darkies,  and,  by  the  way,  the  intellectual 
head  of  the  Harding  family.  "Look'e  here  ;  don't  ye  see  we's 
prisoners  of  war  ?  We  must  do  what  dem  tells  us  as  took  us 
prisoners.  Yesterday  all  round  here  was  dese  Rebels ;  now 
ebery  one  has  'treated,  and  de  Union  soldiers,  God  bress  dem, 
has  come  on,  and  we's  in  de  hands  ob  de  Union — we's  prisoners 
ob  war.  Now  don't  you  see  we  wont  run  away  from  Massa 
Harding,  but  we  only  obeys  de  orders  ob  dem  as  took  us  prison 
ers.  I  told  ole  Massa  long  time  ago  dat  he  better  be  on  de  side 
ob  de  Union,  dat  God  would  bress  de  Union  yet ;  but  he  only 
git  mad,  and  cuss,  and  say  de  Souf  will  whip  every  time.  You 
see  ole  Massa  wants  to  be  allers  on  de  side  dat  whips.  Dat's  de 
kind  ob  man  he  is." 

"Oh,  oh,"  said  Caroline,  "I'se  nebber  in  sich  trouble  in  all 
de  born  days  ob  my  life.  I'se  completely  flustrated.  I  don't 
like  to  leave  ole  missus,  I  don't." 

"  Do  you  think  you're  gwine  to  stay  here  when  you  get  your 
orders,  and  de  whole  army  what  made  de  rebels  skedaddle  close 
by  to  force  de  orders  ?  Tears  to  me  you  han't  got  good  sense 
to-day,  Car'line." 

"  Well,  'pears  to  me  I  don't  know  nothin'  at  all.  I  never 
seed  sich  times  afore.  T  allers  said  I'd  stay  with  missus  while  I 
last,  but  'pears  like  I  must  go  now."  And  the  old  couple  pro 
ceeded  to  gather  up  their  earthly  goods  to  leave.  If  this  should 
ever  meet  the  eye  of  the  white  Mr.  Harding  he  has  my  testi 
mony  that  his  negroes  did  not  run  away. 

During  the  forenoon  Gen.  Sheridan  called,  making  inquiries 
for  the  body  of  the  lamented  Sill.  By  his  orders  a  detachment 
of  the  36th,  under  command  of  Captain,  now  Major,  Sherman,  of 


BtJRIAL    OP   THE    DEAD.  385 

Elgin,  was  sent  to  bury  the  dead  of  our  regiment.  It  was  a  mourn 
ful  sight.  One  portion  was  engaged  in  digging  a  huge  trench  at 
the  edge  of  the  woods  and  close  to  where  the  struggle  was 
so  desperate  on  the  31st — another  in  gathering  the  bodies 
together  and  arranging  them  side  by  side  according  to  their  com 
panies,  just  as  they  had  stood  in  the  ranks — while  another  was 
engaged  in  carving  the  name,  &c.  of  each  on  a  head-board,  that 
the  body  might  be  identified,  and  the  Captain  kept  a  record  of 
each  burial,  with  any  particulars  requiring  mention.  Next  to 
the  patient  endurance  of  the  wounded,  there  was  nothing  more 
touching  than  to  see  the  tender  care  with  which  these  men  per 
formed  the  last  rites  for  their  fallen  comrades.  When  all  was 
done,  and  a  fence  had  enclosed  the  long  grave  in  which  forty- 
one  had  been  laid  to  rest,  the  men  were  drawn  up  in  line,  and  in 
a  few  words  I  referred  to  the  sorrows  of  the  week  and  the  heavy 
affliction  which  had  fallen  upon  us.  I  thought  I  had  felt  for  the 
soldier  before,  but  it  was  at  that  moment  /  knew  a  soldier  s 
heart.  I  tried  to  turn  their  minds  to  Christ  as  to  him  who  alone 
could  comfort  and  make  things  work  together  for  our  good.  We 
then  called  upon  God  in  prayer,  asking  him  that  our  sorrows 
might  not  be  unsanctified ;  that  he  would  graciously  comfort  the 
wounded,  sustain  the  loved  ones  at  home  amid  their  anxious  sus 
pense  and  when  the  news  of  bereavement  should  reach  them  ; 
and  that  there  might  be  few  such  struggles  between  us  and  the 
ultimate  deliverance  of  our  sorrowing  land. 

We  turned  away,  but  the  memory  of  that  hour  and  spot  can 
never  be  effaced.  Often  afterward,  when  the  regiment  had 
been  exposed  to  rain  and  storm,  and  hour  after  hour  passed 
and  still  they  failed  to  come,  I  found  myself  unconsciously 
rising  and  peering  into  the  darkness,  and  I  asked  whence  came 
this  strange  interest  in  these  men?  Immediately  the  vision 


386  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

of  that  long  lone  grave  would  rise  before  me,  and  I  felt  it  was 
born  there.  And  while  I  mused  there  seemed  to  rise  from  those 
many  silent  lips,  a  low,  sad  wail,  which  in  a  moment  was  caught 
up  from  a  thousand  cots  of  pain,  and  then  echoed  back  from  ten 
thousand  desolate  hearth-stones,  and  it  said,  (what  I  heard  when 
wading  through  the  mud  at  Triune)  "  Oh,  my  country,  how  much 
do  I  suffer  for  thee  !" 

And  when  the  day  shall  come,  for  come  it  will,  that  the  tree 
of  liberty,  more  firmly  rooted  for  this  fearful  hurricane,  shall 
embrace  this  continent  with  its  giant  arms,  and  our  posterity, 
reposing  safely  beneath  its  grateful  shade,  shall  ask  whose  blood 
and  agonies  purchased  for  them  this  fair  inheritance,  then,  among 
the  thousands  of  others,  shall  they  be  pointed  to  that  grave, 
where,  side  by  side,  hard  by  the  spot  on  which  they  fought  and 
fell,  sleep  the  patriot  martyrs  of  the  36TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER   XXIII 


BATTLE  OF  STONE  RIVER  CONTINUED. 


HAT  we  may  have  a  full  account  of  all  the 
movements  of  the  Regiment  during  these  event 
ful  days,  I  will  present  extracts  from  the  official 
reports,  supplemented  by  such  incidents  and 
comments  as  the  journals  of  officers  and  men 
afford. 
CAPT.  P.  c.  OLSON'S  REPORT. 

HEADQUARTERS  36TH  ILL.  VOLS.,       \ 
JANUARY  9,  1863.  { 

The  36th  Illinois  Regiment,  Col.  N.  Greusel  commanding, 
was  called  into  line  at  four  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning,  Dec.  30th, 
1862,  and  stood  under  arms  until  daylight,  to  the  left  of  the 
Wilkinson  pike,  our  right  resting  upon  it,  five  miles  from  Mur- 
freesboro.  At  9  o'clock  A.  M.  we  moved  forward  to  Murfrees- 
boro.  Two  companies  were  deployed  as  skirmishers  to  the  right 
of  the  road  and  were  soon  engaged  with  the  enemy's  skirmishers. 
When  two  miles  from  Murfreesboro,  the  regiment  was  deployed 
in  the  cornfield  to  the  right  of  the  pike,  and  two  companies  were 
sent  forward  as  skirmishers,  as  ordered  by  Gen.  Sill.  The  regi 
ment  lay  in  line  in  this  field  until  two  o'clock  p.  M.,  at  which 
time  the  whole  line  was  ordered  to  advance.  The  skirmishers 
kept  up  a  sharp  fire — the  enemy's  line  retreating  and  ours 


388  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

advancing.  We  drove  the  enemy  through  the  timber  and  across 
the  cotton-field,  a  low,  narrow  strip,  stretching  to  the  right,  into 
the  timber.  A  Rebel  battery,  directly  in  front  of  the  36th, 
opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  us.  Our  skirmishers  advanced  to  the 
foot  of  the  hill  near  the  cotton-field,  and  here  kept  up  a  well- 
directed  fire.  We  were  ordered  to  support  Capt.  Bush's  Bat 
tery,  which  was  brought  into  position  in  the  point  of  timber 
where  our  right  rested,  and  opened  fire  with  terrible  effect  upon 
the  enemy.  We  remained  as  a  support  until  nearly  dark,  when 
Capt.  Bush  went  to  the  rear,  the  enemy's  battery,  or  rather  its 
disabled  fragments,  having  been  dragged  from  the  field.  In  this 
day's  engagement,  the  regiment  lost  three  killed  and  fifteen 
wounded ;  total,  eighteen.  We  occupied  the  hill  during  the 
night,  and  our  skirmishers  were  in  line  at  the  edge  of  the  cot 
ton-field. 

On  the  morning  of  Dec.  31st,  soon  after  daylight,  the  enemy 
advanced  in  strong  force  from  the  timber  beyond  the  cotton-field, 
opposite  our  right.  They  came  diagonally  across  the  field,  and 
upon  reaching  the  foot  of  the  hill  made  a  left  half-wheel,  coming 
up  directly  in  front  of  us.  When  the  enemy  had  advanced  up 
the  hill  sufficiently  to  be  in  sight,  Col.  Greusel  ordered  the  regi 
ment  to  fire,  which  was  promptly  obeyed.  We  engaged  the 
enemy  at  short  range,  the  lines  being  not  over  ten  rods  apart. 
After  a  few  rounds,  the  regiment  supporting  us  on  the  right  gave 
way.  In  this  manner  we  fought  for  nearly  half  an  hour,  when 
Col.  Greusel  ordered  the  regiment  to  charge.  The  enemy  fled 
in  great  confusion  across  the  cotton-field,  into  the  woods  oppo 
site  our  left,  leaving  many  of  their  dead  and  wounded  upon  the 
field.  We  poured  a  destructive  fire  upon  them  as  they  retreated, 
until  they  were  beyond  range. 

The  36th  again  took  position  upon  the  hill,  and  the  support 
for  our  right  came  forward.  At  this  time  Gen.  Sill  was  killed 
and  Col.  Greusel  took  command  of  the  brigade.  A  fresh  brigade 
of  the  enemy  advanced  from  the  direction  that  the  first  had  come, 
and  in  splendid  order.  We  opened  fire  on  them  with  terrific 
effect.  Again  the  regiment  on  our  right  gave  way,  and  we  were 


CAPTAIN   OLSON'S    REPORT.  389 

again  left  without  support.  In  this  condition  we  fought  until 
our  ammunition  was  exhausted  and  the  enemy  had  entirely  flanked 
us  on  our  right.  At  this  juncture,  Maj.  Miller  ordered  the  reg 
iment  to  fall  back.  While  retreating,  Maj.  Miller  was  wounded, 
and  the  command  devolved  on  me.  We  moved  back  of  the  corn 
field  to  the  edge  of  the  timber,  a  hundred  rods  to  the  right  of 
the  Wilkinson  pike  and  two  miles  from  Murfreesboro,  at  eight 
o'clock  A.  M.  Here  I  met  Gen.  Sheridan  and  reported  to  him 
that  the  regiment  was  out  of  ammunition,  and  that  I  would  be 
ready  for  action  as  soon  as  I  could  obtain  it.  We  had  suffered 
severely  in  resisting  the  attack  of  superior  numbers.  I  had  now 
only  one  hundred  and  forty  men.  The  regiment  fought  with 
great  obstinacy,  and  much  is  due  Col.  N.  Greusel  for  his  bravery 
in  conducting  the  regiment  before  being  called  away.  Adjutant 
Biddulph  went  to  find  the  ammunition,  but  did  not  succeed.  I  then 
informed  Quartermaster  Bouton  that  I  needed  cartridges,  but  he 
failed  to  find  any,  except  size  fifty-eight,  the  calibre  of  most  of 
the  arms  being  sixty-nine.  I  was  ordered  by  Maj-Gen.  McCook 
to  fall  back  to  the  rear  of  Gen.  Crittenden's  corps.  I  arrived 
there  about  ten  o'clock  A.  M..  I  here  obtained  ammunition,  and 
despatched  the  Adjutant  to  report  to  Col.  Greusel  the  condition 
and  whereabouts  of  the  regiment.  He  returned  without  seeing 
the  Colonel.  Lieut.  Watkins  soon  rode  up  and  volunteered  to 
take  a  message  to  Col.  Greusel  or  Gen.  Sheridan.  He  also 
returned  without  finding  either  officer.  I  now  went  in  search  of 
Gen.  Sheridan  myself;  found  him  at  twelve  o'clock,  and  reported 
to  him  the  regiment  (what  there  was  left  of  it)  ready  to  move  to 
the  front.  He  ordered  that  I  should  hold  the  regiment  in  read 
iness  and  await  his  commands. 

At  two  o'clock  P.  M.  I  received  orders  from  Gen.  Sheridan  to 
advance  to  the  front  to  the  left  of  the  railroad,  and  connect  my 
command  temporarily  with  Col.  Leibold's  brigade.  We  were 
here  subject  to  a  very  severe  artillery  fire.  A  twelve-pound 
shell  struck  in  the  right  of  the  regiment,  and  killed  Lieut.  Loren 
L.  Olson  (a  brave  and  faithful  officer,  commanding  Company  F), 
Corp.  Riggs,  and  wounding  three  others.  At  dark  we  were 


390  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

moved  by  Lieut.  Denning  one-quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  rear, 
where  we  remained  for  the  night.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing  of  the  first  of  January,  1863,  by  order  of  Gen.  Sheridan, 
we  marched  to  his  head-quarters  on  the  Nashville  pike,  a  dis 
tance  of  half  a  mile,  where  at  daylight  I  reported  to  Col.  Greu 
sel.  As  ordered  by  him,  we  took  position  to  the  right  of  Capt. 
Bush's  battery,  fronting  west.  We  built  a  barricade  of  logs  and 
stone,  and  remained  through  the  day  ready  to  receive  the  enemy, 
but  no  attack  was  made.  On  the  morning  of  the  2nd.  the  regi 
ment  was  in  line  at  four  o'clock  ;  stood  under  arms  until  daylight. 
We  remained  ready  for  action  through  the  day  until  four  o'clock 
p.  M.,  when,  by  order  of  Col.  Greusel,  we  moved  to  the  right  on 
the  line  formerly  occupied  by  Gen.  Davis.  During  the  night 
considerable  skirmishing  occurred  on  our  front.  On  the  morn 
ing  of  the  3rd  inst.,  the  regiment  stood  under  arms  from  four 
o'clock  until  daylight.  At  eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  by  order  of  Col. 
Greusel,  we  changed  position  to  the  right  and  somewhat  to  the 
rear,  letting  our  right  rest  upon  the  Nashville  pike.  On  the 
morning  of  the  4th  we  were  under  arms  at  four  o'clock.  No 
fighting  occurred  on  our  part  of  the  line  during  the  day.  In 
the  action  throughout,  the  regiment  behaved  in  the  most  gallant 
manner.  The  officers,  with  only  a  single  exception,  distinguished 
themselves  for  bravery  and  coolness.  The  men  with  unflinching 
courage  were  always  ready,  and  met  the  enemy  with  a  determin 
ation  to  conquer.  I  tender  my  thanks  to  Adj.  Biddulph  for  the 
gallant  and  efficient  manner  in  which  he  assisted  me,  and  also  to 
the  other  officers  for  their  gallant  action  throughout  the  strong 
conflict,  which  resulted  in  victory.  I  append  to  this  report  a 
list  of  casualties.  PORTER  C.  OLSON, 

Captain,  Commanding  36th  Illinois  Vols. 
The  journals  of  the  boys  make  special  mention  of  the  march 
back  to  Gen.  Sheridan's  head-quarters  on  the  Nashville  pike  at 
three  o'clock  A.  M.,  January  1st,  and  no  wonder,  for  they  were 
hungry  as  well  as  exhausted,  and  were  allowed  to  help  themselves 
to  rations,  which  they  were  not  slow  to  do.  Behind  the  barri 
cades,  mentioned  by  Capt.  Olson  in  his  report,  one-half  the  men 


STAMPEDE    OF    CEDAR    SWAMP.  391 

sat  up  during  the  nights  of  January  1st  and  2nd,  while  the  oth 
ers  slept,  thus  securing  themselves  against  a  surprise.  On  the 
2nd,  while  holding  their  position  all  day,  heavy  firing  continued 
along  the  lines  till  afternoon,  when  the  enemy  was  drawn  into  a 
general  engagement,  which  continued  with  terrible  fury  till  dark. 
"  We  lay,"  says  one,  "with  our  muskets  in  our  hands,  breath 
lessly  listening  to  every  change  in  the  battle,  every  moment 
expecting  it  would  begin  with  us.  Now  could  be  heard  the 
cheers  of  our  gallant  boys  as  some  advantage  was  gained,  then 
the  loud  yell  of  the  enemy.  At  last  a  long,  loud  cheer  broke 
from  our  lines  as  the  firing  grew  distant,  and  we  had  gained  the 
battle."  It  is  to  this  engagement  on  our  left  reference  is  made 
in  my  journal,  and  of  it  Gen.  Rosecrans  says  in  his  report : 
"  The  firing  was  terrific,  and  the  havoc  terrible.  The  enemy 
retreated  more  rapidly  than  they  had  advanced.  In  forty  min 
utes  they  lost  two  thousand  men." 

The  hospital  steward,  J.  C.  Denison,  gives  a  lively  picture  of 
the  stampede  through  the  Cedar  Swamps,  the  remembrance  of 
which  will  never  be  effaced  from  the  mind  of  any  one  who  saw 
it.  He  says  of  Dec.  31st :  "  The  fighting  commenced  very 
heavy,  and  soon  Johnson's  whole  brigade  was  running,  and  a 
greater  stampede  I  never  saw.  We  all  ran  through  a  large  cedar 
swamp,  over  stones,  across  the  railroad,  through  fields,  the  secesh 
throwing  shells  right  among  us.  They  got  so  near  that  they 
took  teams  all  around  us,  but  George  Woods  and  our  team  got 
away."  Soon  he  adds :  "  The  ambulance  drivers  got  up  another 
big  scare  and  ran  off  and  left  us."  The  day  after  he  says  : 
"Very  soon  the  cannon  commenced  to  boom  and  the  drivers 
mounted  in  hot  haste  and  started  again,  but  soon  we  got  them 
back." 

J.  L.  Dryden,  of  Company  C,  says:  "At  the  opening  of 
the  battle  on  Wednesday  morning,  Dec.  31st,  I  fired  one  shot 


392  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

while  lying  down  behind  our  little  breast-work  of  cedar  rails, 
but  not  liking  the  situation  as  far  as  loading  was  concerned,  I 
rose  up  and  remained  standing  during  the  battle.  With  the 
second  shot  I  received  a  buck  shot  in  my  right  arm,  (which 
remains  there  yet)  and  which  felt  at  the  time  more  like  the  prick 
of  a  pin  than  anything  else.  This  kept  me  off  duty  for  about 
one  week.  At  the  time  the  second  charge  was  made,  when  our 
forces  on  our  right  had  given  way,  the  old  regiment  fell  back  one 
at  a  time,  until  when  I  started  for  the  rear  there  was  not  a  man 
of  our  regiment  on  my  right,  and  the  Johnnies  were  rapidly 
forming  a  'bull  pen'  around  us.  'Thinks  I  to  myself,'  Old 
Broadhorns  is  a  goner  sure.  I  started  for  the  rear,  dragging  my 
old  musket  in  my  right  hand,  and  some  man,  I  never  knew  who, 
ran  along  beside  me  for  quite  a  distance,  when  all  at  once  a 
musket  ball  struck  him  in  the  back  of  the  head,  coming  out  of 
his  nose,  throwing  him  face  up  right  in  front  of  me,  and  his 
dying  groan  I  never  can  forget.  I  found  my  way  to  the  hospital 
wagon,  had  my  pin-hole  wound  dressed,  and  returned  to  the 
company  next  day,  but  had  no  more  fighting  that  time." 

Among  the  bravest  of  the  brave  should  be  mentioned  Sergt. 
0.  Smith,  of  Company  E,  whose  gallantry  was  so  conspicuous 
as  to  win  the  special  commendation  of  his  officers,  and  after  the 
battle  he  was  promoted  to  the  2nd  Lieutenancy  of  his  Company. 

There  were  well  authenticated  cases  of  soldiers  prophesying 
their  own  death.  Such  an  one  occurred  in  this  battle.  Samuel 
Young,  Company  D,  before  the  engagement  of  the  31st  Dec., 
said  to  his  comrades,  "  I  have  passed  through  two  battles,  but 
this  is  my  last,"  shook  hands  and  bade  "good-bye"  to  nearly  all 
his  Company.  His  premonition  proved  true,  for  after  the  fight 
his  comrades,  some  of  whom  had  ridiculed  his  prophecy,  found 
his  body,  face  to  the  enemy,  and  as  there  was  nothing  terrible 


COMMENDATION    OF    OFFICERS.  393 

depicted  on  his  countenance,  it  was  felt  that  Sam  was  ready  to 
meet  death  as  he  had  been  ever  ready  to  meet  the  enemies  of 
his  country. 

Charles  J.  Miner,  of  Company  K,  had  an  enormous  Roman 
nose,  which  won  for  him  the  name  of  "Nosey."  This  promi 
nent  organ  was  the  source  of  much  fun,  and  his  companions 
declared  that  if  ever  he  was  shot,  his  nose,  which  overshadowed 
his  face,  would  be  the  object  hit ;  and  sure  enough,  at  this  battle 
he  was  shot  through  his  nose.  The  damage  disfigured  him  more 
than  ever  until  the  wound  was  healed,  when  it  was  found  that 
the  quantity  of  nose  shot  away  materially  improved  his  looks,  so 
that  the  name  "  Nosey  "  was  afterward  dropped. 

All  spoke  enthusiastically  of  the  hopeful  courage  of  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  who  seemed  to  be  everywhere.  He  visited  our  lines 
during  the  night,  showed  the  men  how  to  rear  up  rails  against 
their  breastworks  of  logs  and  stones,  and,  while  firing  between 
the  rails,  have  their  own  heads  well  protected  from  attack. 

Gen.  Rosecrans  says  in  his  report,  "  Col.  Greusel,  36th  111. 
Vols.,  and  Col.  Bradley,  51st  111.  Vols.  are  especially  commended 
for  skill  and  courage." 

Gen.  Sheridan's  report  says  of  Col.  Greusel  and  other  officers 
who  took  charge  of  brigades  at  the  death  of  their  commanders  : 
"These  officers  behaved  gallantly  throughout  the  day."  Gen. 
S.  also  adds  :  "  I  refer  with  pride  to  the  splendid  conduct,  bravery 
and  efficiency  of  the  following  regimental  commanders,  and  the 
officers  and  men  of  their  respective  commands:  Maj.  Silas  Mil 
ler,  36th  111. ;  wounded  and  a  prisoner.  Capt.  P.  C.  Olson, 
36th  111.,  Company  B  Cavalry."  Capt.  Sherer's  command  was 
on  duty  at  Gen.  Davis'  headquarters,  and  of  them  Gen.  D.  says  in 
his  report:  "  The  enemy's  pickets  were  discovered  by  my  cavalry 

26 


3$4  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

escort — composed  of  Company  B,  36th  Illinois  Vols.,  under  com 
mand  of  Capt.  Sherer — within  a  few  miles  of  our  camp.  This 
small  squad  of  cavalry  being  the  only  mounted  force  under  my 
command,  I  ordered  them  to  the  front,  with  instructions  to  drive 
in  the  enemy's  pickets,  and  to  attack  him  on  his  flanks  at  every 
opportunity.  So  effectually  -was  this  done  that  the  infantry  and 
artillery  were  enabled  to  move  with  little  interruption  to  within 
a  mile  of  Nolensville.  By  this  time  I  had  learned  from  reliable 
information,  through  citizens,  as  well  as  ca.valry  scouts,  that  the 
enemy  occupied  the  town  in  some  force,  both  of  cavalry  and 
artillery." 

Col.  Carlin,  commanding  2nd  Brigade,  1st  Division,  reports : 
"  Of  my  orderlies,  Private  Pease,  Company  B,  36th  Illinois 
Vols.,  had  his  horse  shot  under  him  while  carrying  my  orders. 
Private  Knox,  same  company,  also  had  his  horse  shot  under  him, 
and  while  endeavoring  to  procure  another  horse  for  me,  was 
wounded  by  a  grape  shot,  and  again  by  a  minnie  ball." 

LIST  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED. 

OFFICERS    KILLED. 

2nd  Lieut.  Loren  P.  Olson,  Company  F. 

OFFICERS    WOUNDED. 

Major  Silas  Miller,  1st  Lieut.  S.  H.  Wakeman,  Company  A  ;  Capt.  B. 
F.  Campbell,  Company  B;  Capt.  Albert  Hobbs,  Company  E;  Lieut.  G. 
W.  Mossman,  Company  F;  Capt.  O.  B.  Merrill,  Company  I;  1st  Lieut. 
John  F.  Elliott,  Company  K. 

OFFICERS  MISSING. 

2nd  Lieut.  Myron  Smith,  Company  H. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    KILLED. 

Corp.  Thomas  Fenner,  Company  A;  Sergt.  David  McClorg,  Company 
B;  Sergt  Alexander  Stickler  and  Corp.  William  C.  Benedict,  Company 
D;  Sergt.  Michael  Boomer  and  Corp.  Alfred  Riggs,  Company  F;  Corps. 
Wm.  Hutchings,  Orlando  W.  Nash  and  Alvin  S.  Bunker,  Company  H; 
Corp.  Asaph  Adams,  Company  K. 


KILLED   AND   WOUNDED.  395 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICEKS   WOUNDED. 

Sergt.  Alexander  Robinson  and  Corporal  Benjamin  D.  Rowland, 
Company  A;  Corporals  Henry  B.  Latham  and  Wm.  F.  Blakeslee,  Com 
pany  B;  Corp.  John  C.  Taylor,  Company  D;  1st  Sergt.  O.  Smith,'  Sergt. 
L.  F.  Hemenway,  Corps.  D.  Darnell  and  D.  Burnside,  Company  E; 
Sergts.  S.  L.  Smith  and  Wm.  Eybond,  and  Corp.  Wm.  Mossman,  Com 
pany  F;  1st  Sergt.  H.  N.  Crittenden,  and  Sergts.  Nelson  B.  Sherwood, 
J.  C.  Wolfe  and  D.  Hartman,  Company  H;  Sergt.  T.  Folsom  and  Corp. 
Frank  Weeks,  Company  K. 

LIST    OF    THE    MISSING. 

Sergt.  D.  Smith,  Company  I. 

PRIVATES    KILLED. 

Henry  Clayton,  Thomas  Staunton,  Frederick  H.  Burmaster,  Moses  F. 
Gibbs  and  George  M.  Johnson,  Company  A ;  Frank  Thompson,  Com 
pany  B;  Joseph  Baxter,  James  Elder,  Daniel  H.  Buchanan  and  Wm.  F. 
Arthurs,  Company  C ;  James  Thorp  and  Samuel  Young,  Company  D ; 
Benjamin  Sayers,  Nicholas  Meehan,  Augustus  Kastin,  William  Burgess 
and  James  Baird,  Company  E;  James  Foster,  Cornelius  Seward,  Rich 
ard  H.  Spaulding,  Charles  Wangler  and  Augustus  Vanorden,  Company 
F  ;  Zalman  F.  Hulse,Henry  D.  Norton  and  David  Vandorsten, Company  G ; 
Robert  Archibald,  Washington  M.  Floyd,  William  H.  Jones  and  Lorenzo 
D.  Keyes,  Company  H ;  Leander  Ellis,  Company  I ;  George  Lenheart, 
George  Monroe,  George  Pollock  and  George  Hall,  Company  K. 

PRIVATES    WOUNDED. 

Alexander  C.  Lind,  Leroy  Salsbury,  Cyrus  F.  Dean,  John  W.  Aid- 
rich,  Charles  A.  Brown,  Freeman  S.  Dunkle,  John  Flood,  Alexander  F. 
Henderson,  John  A.  Hewitt,  David  Munro,  Merrill  H.  Sabin,  Charles  L. 
Themur,  Milton  S.  Townsend  and  John  A.  White,  Company  A;  Ornery 
D.  Haseltine,  Henry  Alcott,  Vanwyck  Race,  John  Ott,  Adam  Reitz, 
William  Vanohlen,  James  Campbell  and  Thomas  McConnell,  Company 
B;  Robert  J.  Colwell,  James  L.  Dryden,  Albert  0.  Eckleston,  John  B. 
Edgar,  Thomas  B.  Gormley,  William  Hartsell,  Ferdinand  Hercher, 
Warren  Kintsee,  Ethan  Keck,  Francis  McClanahan,  Walter  Reeder,' 
John  Shook,  James  H.  Smith,  Abraham  Steward  and  Joseph  Young, 
Company  C;  O.  H.  Thompson,  Joseph  A.  Smith,  Harvey  Kimball, 
Henry  F.  Burch,  Lynder  K .  Banister,  Thomas  Welch,  Samuel  Tucker, 
Nelson  Eckerson,  0.  N.  Johnson,  0.  W.  Oleson  and  Lewis  R.  Seymor,' 
Company  D;  Frederick  Beir,  Alfred  Bullard,  James  Brown,  Charles  G! 
Doane, 'Charles  W.  Doty,  Aaron  Darnell,  Uriah  Foster,  Oscar  Howe, 
Henry  Haigh,  James  Harral,  William  Hunter,  James  S.  Hatch,  Gilbert 
Ketcham,  Elisha  E.  Lloyd,  George  W.  Lanigan,  Henry  Mullen,  James *E. 
Moss,  George  E.  Merrill,  Cyrus  Perry,  Walter  S.  Ralston,  Charles  H. 


396  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Scofleld  and  Joel  Wagner,  Company  E;  William  Curtis,  Stephen  Cum- 
mings,  Edwin  Dopp,  William  A.  Haggett,  John  Jordan,  Anton  Myer, 
Lewis  Oleson,  Alfred  Tomlin,  Albert  H.  Wulff  and  William  Thompson, 
Company  F ;  William  Goold,  Robert  B.  Home,  Daniel  Kennedy,  Peter 
Bradt,  William  Chamberlain,  Joseph  Hebert,  Robert  Jordan,  George 
W.  Moody,  Wilbur  Roseman,  William  F.  Severans,  Peter  Buchanan, 
Frank  Small  and  Milton  G.  Yarnell,  Company  G;  Charles  Crawford, 
Jackson  Conroe,  Jerome  Ford,  John  Sackett,  David  D.  Warwick,  Myron 
Harris  and  Munroe  Throop,  Company  H;  Frederick  Witzkey,  William 
Varner.  John  Roth  and  Anton  Miller,  Company  I;  John  Gordon, 
Eldridge  Adams,  Frederick  Hazelhurst,  Sydney  Wauzen,  Henry  Buten, 
Charles  Miner,  Owen  Wood,  Henry  Hogue,  Lemuel  Grundy,  John 
Peterson,  Paul  VanWicklin,  Eugene  Albso,  Harlem  Sanders  and  Lucien 
Button,  Company  K. 

PRIVATES   MISSING. 

Isaac  N.  Miner,  Edwin  H.  Robinson,  Albert  Shan,  John  F.  Scott, 
Company  A;  Elnathan  Weeden,  Adam  Campbell,  Jacob  Winn,  Carl 
Eckhart,Joel  Wilder,Company  B;  Frank  Henning, Oliver  Edmond, Com 
pany  D ;  William  Woolen wiber,  Company  E ;  Canute  Phillips,  Company 
F;  Jesse  Brown,  Company  G;  Robert  Kee,  Company  H ;  D.  M.  Carry, 
Company  I;  Allen  Bursse,  Edward  Reader,  Joseph  Leurman,  George 
Gates,  Company  K. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 


PRISON    LIFE    IN    THE    SOUTH COL.    MILLER'S    STORY. 


NOW  come  to  that  portion  of  my  experience  which 
is  not  interesting  to  me,  but  is  perhaps  to  you. 
Immediately  after  my  capture  I  was  offered  a  parole. 
I  remarked,  I  did  not  believe  it  would  be  recog 
nized  by  Gen.  Rosecrans.  In  holding  me,  I  pro 
posed  there  should  be  some  one  held  in  my  place, 
and  there  was,  until  a  week  ago  last  Tuesday.  We 
were  hurried  immediately,  as  fast  as  we  could  walk, 
to  Murfreesboro,  where  we  found  from  one  to  three 
thousand  men  from  Johnson's  Division  and  some  from  Davis', 
cooped  up  in  a  yard  in  that  place.  We  were  put  in  the  upper 
room  of  a  very  handsome  house,  of  course,  and  when  their  lines 
began  to  fall  back,  they  hurried  us  off  to  Chattanooga,  and  from 
thence  to  Atlanta,  arriving  at  that  place  on  the  21st  of  January. 
On  that  day  Jeff,  said  he  should  exchange  no  more  prisoners, 
but  was  going  to  try  them  all  for  negro  stealing,  the  penalty  for 
that  offence  being  death. 

At  Atlanta,  during  the  first  two  months  we  were  no  better  treated 
than  I  supposed  we  should  be.  Your  treatment  as  a  prisoner  of 
war  in  the  Southern  Confederacy  will  depend  much  into  whose 
hands  you  fall.  As  a  whole,  I  did  not  complain,  for  I  fared  as 
well  as  other  officers  did,  yet  never  as  hard  in  the  Federal  lines. 


398  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

I  do  verily  believe  that  if  our  army  was  fed  as  bad,  fifty  per 
cent  of  them  would  desert,  officers  and  all. 

Prison  life  is  a  very  different  thing  from  what  you  may  antic 
ipate.  It  is  not  very  pleasant  to  be  there  and  know  you  can't 
get  outside  ;  to  know  there  is  a  bayonet  and  musket  pointed  at 
you  if  you  try  to  get  by.  At  the  same  time,  there  is  no  place 
in  life  where  I  could  not  enjoy  myself  to  some  extent,  and  I 
enjoyed  myself  there.  There  was  a  jolly  set  of  boys  there,  from 
Illinois,  Wisconsin,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Missouri,  &c.,  and  they 
were  all  good  company.  What  time  we  could  not  use  up  playing 
cards,  sledge,  euchre,  &c.,  was  spent  in  reading  light  literature. 
Our  rations  consisted  of  all  we  wanted  to  eat  of  cornmeal,  mixed 
with  water,  thrown  by  not  a  very  clean  negro  into  a  pan  and 
baked,  and  venerable  beef — beef  that  ought  to  exact  reverence 
from  any  man  who  looked  at  it. 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  if  you  ever  go  where  there  are  prison 
ers  of  war,  go  with  a  civil  tongue  in  your  head.  If  you  cannot 
go  to  see  prisoners  without  offering  an  insult,  let  them  alone.  It 
is  mean — yes,  it  is  downright  cowardice  to  insult  a  man  when 
he  is  in  your  power.  Rebels  were  very  liable  to  get  into  dis 
cussions  with  us.  Rebel  newspapers  are  the  most  consummate 
set  of  liars  to  be  found  anywhere.  The  press  of  the  South  have 
done  more  to  deceive  the  people  than  anything  else  in  the  whole 
South.  Their  ardor  does  not  consist  so  much  in  their  patriot 
ism,  a  love  of  their  cause  based  upon  truths  they  know,  as  the 
knowledge  they  have  is  from  the  lies  of  Rebel  newspapers.  I  know 
they  lied  some,  because  they  said  we  could  not  sing,  which  was 
not  so.  During  my  incarceration  I  never  was  interrogated  but 
once  with  regard  to  my  political  feelings.  A  man  asked  me  what 
I  was  in  the  army  for.  I  told  him  I  would  not  argue  with  him, 
because  it  would  make  him  none  the  better.  He  said  he  did  not 
believe  I  knew  what  I  was  fighting  for ;  that  we  were  all  mis 
guided,  were  all  abolitionists,  and  all  we  went  into  the  war  for 
was  the  nigger ;  that  we  would  all  soon  get  sick  of  it,  and  get 
out ;  the  South  was  not  going  to  give  up  till  we  drove  them  to 
the  last  ditch.  The  guard  gave  me  permission  to  say  what  I  was 


COL.  MILLER'S  STORY.  399 

a  mind  to.  I  asked  him  about  the  origin  of  this  rebellion ; 
if  there  was  anything  honorable,  honest  or  consistent  in  the  mem 
bers  of  the  United  States  Senate  from  the  Southern  States  swear 
ing  upon  the  Bible  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  when  they  were  secretly  plotting  to  break  up  this  glorious 
Union,  thus  swearing  to  a  lie?  that  they  were  malicious  per 
jurers.  I  asked  him  if  they  could  succeed  and  exist  in  such  a 
cause,  cradled  and  swathed  in  crime,  and  kept  in  existence  by 
the  worst  form  of  slavery,  by  the  most  diabolical  measures ;  that 
my  platform  was  annihilation  and  re-population  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy. 

That  is  my  platform  still !  and  if  it  costs  the  life  of  your  son, 
the  life  of  my  brother,  my  life,  and  a  million  of  other  lives,  what 
is  that  compared  with  the  support  and  preservation  of  this  gov 
ernment  ? 

We  remained  at  Atlanta  till  the  majority  were  taken  to  Rich 
mond.  All  supposed  we  were  to  be  exchanged.  We  got  our 
blankets  packed  up,  and  felt  very  happy,  but  the  man  came  and 
said  he  guessed  some  of  these  fellows  were  going  to  remain, 
because  Gen.  Rosecrans  had  got  some  of  their  legislature  men  in 
Louisville,  and  till  they  were  released  we  were  to  suffer  the  same 
penalty  inflicted  on  them  ;  if  they  were  shot,  we  were  to  be  shot. 
This  was  very  pleasant  after  thinking  you  were  to  be  free.  We 
hostages  were  left  in  the  best  prison,  the  others  went  to  the  Libby 
prison.  After  this  time  our  treatment  in  Atlanta  was  excellent, 
our  guard  being  one  of  the  very  best  in  existence.  The  first 
party  went  to  Richmond  by  way  of  Augusta,  and  we  went  by 
way  of  Knoxville  and  Lynchburg. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  loyalty  in  East  Tennessee.  In  Knox 
ville,  officers  were  offered  any  amount  of  money  they  wished. 
There  was  upwards  of  four  thousand  dollars  offered  to  the  officers 
if  they  would  only  accept  it.  For  natural  beauty  it  is  next  to 
Kentucky  and  the  Fox  River  Valley.  In  Richmond,  our  old 
friends,  except  a  few,  were  still  remaining,  but  many  officers  were 
in  Libby  prison.  In  the  New  York  Herald  there  was  published 
a  full  description  of  the  prisoners  and  their  position. 


400  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  first  thing  you  would  hear  in  the  morning  was  a  big  negro, 
hollering  "great  news ;"  but  he  would  not  sell  any  of  his  papers 
till  all  were  awake.  The  price  was  very  reasonable.  One-half 
sheet  seven  columns,  and  price  only  fifteen  cents  apiece.  The 
next  thing  after  reading  the  papers,  was  to  find  out  when  your 
turn  came  to  cook.  Sometimes  we  had  a  chance  to  cook  twice, 
and  sometimes  but  once.  If  you  had  the  first  chance,  you  might 
cook  twice  ;  if  not,  you  ate  just  as  little  bread  as  you  could  get 
along  with,  and  hung  off'  till  dinner  time.  Our  rations  in  Libby 
prison  were  riot  anything  to  brag  of.  The  meat  was  not  much 
worse  than  we  had  while  in  Atlanta — a  little  older  and  somewhat 
more  venerable.  We  could  not  get  very  near  it  until  it  had  been 
boiled  in  two  or  three  waters.  Some  of  it  had  been  pickled  in 
the  same  brine  that  had  been  used  for  pickling  oysters,  and  all 
that  you  would  have  to  do  to  distribute  it  around,  was  to  take  oft' 
its  shackles  and  order  it  to  go,  which  it  could  do  without  further 
assistance.  With  this  beef  we  had  a  one-half  pound  loaf  of  hard 
bread,  and  I  have  seen  the  time  I  could  eat  the  day's  rations  at 
one  meal  very  comfortably. 

Bread  was  worth  $2.25 ;  butter,  $2.50,  and  molasses  could  be 
bought  at  from  $13.00  to  $16.00  per  gallon.  We  used  to  have 
pretty  high  living  when  we  had  plenty  of  money. 

The  most  amusing  occupation  we  had,  was  what  we  called 
skirmishing.  A  class  of  individuals  were  disposed  to  dispute  our 
sovereignty  to  a  certain  portion  of  our  property.  Our  blankets 
were  of  a  curious  nature.  I  don't  know  how  many  men  had  died 
in  them  ;  1  don't  know  where  they  came  from ;  but  I  do  know 
they  had  a  great  many  inhabitants  in  them.  Mine  had,  and  it 
was  absolutely  impossible  to  rid  them  of  their  tenants.  ,You 
might  sit  and  search  your  clothes ;  the  iioor  on  which  you  slept ; 
might  look  at  your  blankets  ;  boil  them  in  hot  water,  and  you 
could  not  expect  to  exterminate  the  heavy  division  called  "  Grey 
Backs,"  which  came  down  upon  us  like  an  avalanche  every  night. 
One  of  our  principal  sources  of  amusement  in  Libby  prison,  was 
punishing  these  fellows.  Sleeping  on  the  floor  is  very  nearly  as 
good  as  sleeping  on  the  ground ;  but  not  quite,  because  you  could 


COL.  MILLER'S  STORY.  401 

make  a  hole  in  the  ground.  We  used  to  sing  there,  very  consider- 
bly,  "  Old  John  Brown,"  &c.,  and  by  this  means  passed  away  many 
a  happy  hour.  We  were  in  Richmond  till  a  week  ago  Tuesday. 
A  week  ago  last  Sunday,  the  doctor  conveyed  the  idea  that  we 
were  going  to  be  carried  to  City  Point.  If  you  ever  saw  a  panic 
anywhere;  if  you  ever  saw  men  concerned  about  their  prop 
erty  and  negroes ;  if  ever  men  were  in  a  panic,  they  were  when 
Stoneman's  cavalry  neared  the  city.  I  believe  fifteen  hundred 
cavalrymen  could  have  gone  into  that  city — burned  all  the  gov 
ernment  stores,  cars  and  transportation,  which,  by  the  way,  is 
one  of  their  very  greatest  supports.  No  train  was  permitted  to 
run  more  than  ten  miles  an  hour,  and  when  you  destroy  a  full 
train  of  cars,  you  do  them  more  damage  than  if  you  destroy  a 
whole  brigade  of  infantry.  The  following  Tuesday  morning  we 
were  taken  to  City  Point,  where  we  saw  a  flag-of-truce  boat,  and 
for  the  first  time  in  four  months  we  saw  the  American  flag.  When 
you  come  out  from  under  the  tyrannical  power  of  the  S.  C.,  and 
compare  it  with  the  control  under  which  you  now  live,  you  will 
then  know  what  relief  is. 

The  order  and  system  that  exists  in  Fortress  Monroe,  com 
pared  with  that  of  City  Point,  presented  a  most  glowing  contrast. 
I  don't  see  how  any  man  who  has  ordinary  observation,  judging 
from  what  he  can  see,  can  have  any  sympathy  whatever  for  the 
Southern  Confederacy.  I  don't  see  how  any  man  here  can  pos 
sibly  grumble  at  the  deprivation  of  his  liberties  under  the  Gov 
ernment,  at  the  enormous  taxes,  duties,  &c.  Nothing  makes  me 
so  completely  exasperated  as  to  hear  a  man  complain  of  the  right 
to  suspend  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  when  in  the  Southern  Con 
federacy  it  has  been  suspended  without  any  right.  All  you  have 
to  do  there  is  to  be  suspicioned,  and  that  is  enough  to  throw  you 
into  prison.  I  have  seen  gangs  of  from  forty  to  sixty,  with  iron 
bracelets  on  each  hand,  marching  into  prison,  to  remain — not  till 
they  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  but  till  they  volunteer  to  go 
into  the  Confederate  army,  or  stay  till  the  war  is  over — one  or 
the  other  they  have  to  do. 


402  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

CAPT.  MERRILL'S  STORY. 

We,  Col.  Silas  Miller,  Capt.  Albert  Hobbs,  Capt.  0.  B.  Mer 
rill,  Capt.  Frank  Campbell,  Capt.  Wakeman  and  Lieut.  Smith, 
prisoners  taken  at  Stone  River  on  the  last  day  of  December, 
1862,  after  a  stay  of  three  weeks  at  Atlanta,  arrived  at  Libby 
via  Augusta,  Ga. ;  Sumpter,  S.  C. ;  Wilmington,  N.  C.  Our 
advent,  in  company  with  many  other  officers  of  other  regiments 
at  the  old  tobacco  mansion,  was  the  signal  for  great  rejoicing  on 
the  part  of  the  denizens  of  Richmond,  who  came  in  large  num 
bers  to  see  how  Western  soldiers  looked,  they  having  never  seen 
any  such  before.  We  were  given  quarters  on  the  first  floor,  adja 
cent  to  the  room  of  Major  Turner,  the  commandant  of  the  prison. 
The  prison  was  about  60  by  30  feet,  with  a  very  good  view,  from 
the  two  back  windows,  of  the  James  River,  the  cotton  mills  on 
its  opposite  bank,  and  the  surrounding  country.  The  view  from 
the  front  was  not  so  pleasant.  Most  of  the  time  it  was  a  home 
guard  carrying  a  musket.  The  furniture  was  plain  and  substan 
tial  :  one  twelve-foot  bench.  Toward  evening  we  were  furnished 
with  a  blanket  each,  well  lined  with  u grey-backs;"  and  wrapping 
the  frisky  drapery  around  us,  we  lay  down  to  sleep,  or  dream,  or 
scratch — our  first  night  in  Libby. 

The  morning  came,  dark,  heavy  and  dreary,  and  upon  every 
face  were  hidden  glances  of  solicitude,  of  reflection.  But  the 
dreariness  soon  passed  away  in  the  presence  of  new  duties  and 
new  scenes.  There  were  twenty-two  officers,  all  from  the  West 
ern  army,  Brig.  Gen.  Willich,  of  Johnson's  Division,  among  the 
number.  At  ten  o'clock  came  the  roll-caller  (one  Ross,  who 
perished  at  the  burning  of  the  Spottswood  House  in  '74),  and 
then  came  rations  for  the  day :  two  table-spoonsful  of  black  beans, 
two  of  rice,  six  ounces  of  meat  (generally  mule),  and  three  small 
slices  of  bread.  With  this  was  a  dozen  tin  plates.  This  neces 
sitated  the  dividing  of  the  company  into  messes  of  twelve,  and 
with  the  conviction  that  in  union  there  is  strength,  we  put  the 
twelve  rations  together  into  one  kettle,  boiling  to  a  soup.  It  was 
soup,  soup,  twice  a  day  for  five  months,  with  but  a  few  excep 
tions.  It  was  also  a  lucky  thing  for  the  cooks  that  so  many  men 


CAPT.  MERRILL'S  STORY.  403 

of  different  nationalities  were  fond  of  soup.  About  the  com 
mencement  of  the  soup  season  we  purchased  an  old  stove  for  one 
hundred  and  sixty  dollars,  making  an  everyday  detail  from  each 
mess  of  two  as  cooks,  thus  enabling  us  to  cater  to  our  appetites 
more  fully  by  occasionally  having — soup. 

The  prisoners  were  generally  disconsolate  for  the  first  month, 
from  the  fact  that  we  were  continually  reminded  that  an  exchange 
was  about  to  take  place,  but  we  soon  learned  that  this  was  for 
effect,  to  keep  the  gathering  force  resigned.  Then  it  was  that 
some  of  the  prisoners,  whose  home  ties  were  strong,  became  dis 
heartened  and  sick,  resulting  in  their  being  taken  to  the  hospital, 
which  they  rarely  ever  left  except  in  a  pine  coffin.  It  was 
at  such  times  that  inducements  were  offered  to  enter  the  Confed 
erate  service,  but  we  have  no  record  of  a  single  one  accepting  or 
even  giving  it  a  thought.  The  monotony  and  close  confinement 
was  beginning  to  tell  upon  us,  and  give  signs  in  the  gaunt  faces, 
listless  eyes  and  stupid  utterances.  But  Gen.  Willich,  a  thorough 
soldier,  came  to  the  rescue  by  organizing  games  of  exercise,  one 
of  which  was  "Fox  and  Geese."  This  soon  became  the  game  of 
all  others,  which  was  practiced  twice  a  day  for  four  months,  and 
to  its  highly  entertaining  qualities  many  were  in  debt  for  their 
rescue  from  gloomy  thoughts,  the  hospital  and  death.  Our  "  Fox 
and  Geese"  was  similar  to  the  old  game,  with  the  exception  of 
which  the  Fox  must  hop  from  his  corner  on  one  leg,  having  a 
knotted  handkerchief,  and  whoever  received  a  blow  must  ugit" 
to  the  goal,  after  having  to  run  the  gauntlet  of  all  the  geese  who 
also  had  knotted  handkerchiefs  to  help  the  victim  along.  There 
were  some  strong  arms  there,  and  some  knots  larger  than  others, 
and  some  officers  who  wore  jackets  and  were  possessed  of  rotund 
forms,  not  over  active,  and  for  such  the  running  of  the  gauntlet 
had  its  terrors.  New  recruits  were  brought  in  almost  every  day. 
and  this  was  our  mode  of  initiation.  It  may  seem  to  those  not 
acquainted  with  the  situation  that  there  was  folly  in  this,  but  in 
the  absence  of  reading  matter  or  any  occupation  whatever,  it  was 
the  very  best  thing  to  do.  At  times  the  discipline  around  the 
prison  was  very  severe.  The  guards  on  the  James  river  side,  on 
the  slightest  pretext  shooting  through  the  windows,  but  there  was 


404  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

no  one  hit,  though  there  were  some  narrow  escapes.  The  rim  of 
Col.  Miller's  hat  was  perforated  during  one  of  their  shooting 
scrapes. 

The  floor  above  us  was  used  as  a  prison  for  Southern  Union 
men,  and  through  a  hole  in  the  floor,  we  opened  a  correspondence 
and  an  exchange  bank. 

Finding  that  a  dollar  of  our  money  went  no  further  than  a  dol 
lar  of  Confederate  when  sent  out  by  the  guard  for  rice  and 
tobacco,  we  were  not  long  in  finding  out,  too,  that  we  could  do 
better,  the  Union  prisoners  above  offering  four,  five  and  six  dollars 
for  one  of  greenbacks,  we  always  taking  the  highest  bidder.  A 
string  was  let  down,  the*  greenback  tied  on  and  hauled  up  and  its 
price  returned.  About  the  first  of  April  the  small-pox  appeared. 
As  a  "  preventative,"  they  smoked  us  twice  a  day.  "Uncle 
John,"  a  colored  prisoner,  appeared  at  such  times  with  his  camp- 
kettle  half  full  of  burning  leather,  crying  out,  "  Good  mornin', 
gentlemen;  here's  yer  nice  warm  smoke."  All  "business"  was 
immediately  suspended.  Weeping,  sneezing,  and  feeling  around 
for  what  was  once  a  handkerchief,  in  the  smudge  of  half  an  hour, 
was  about  all  that  was  done.  But  there  were  many  things  said. 

Our  room  was  full,  and,  perhaps  owing  to  the  prevailing  epi 
demic,  a  large  number  were  removed  to  a  room  on  the  third  floor, 
all  officers  being  selected  above  and  below  the  grade  of  captain, 
thus  separating  the  36th  squad;  leaving  Capt.  Hobbs,  Capt. 
Waterman,  Capt.  Campbell  and  the  writer  below ;  Col.  Miller 
and  Lieut.  Smith  above — a  change  not  all  desirable. 

About  this  time,  Brig.  Gen.  Stoughton  arrived,  captured  from 
the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  taken  at  the  same  time  was  a  Rus 
sian  baron,  a  Captain  of  Lances  in  his  country,  taking  "  items  " 
at  the  general's  headquarters.  He  was  assigned  to  our  mess,  and 
Capt.  Campbell,  who  was  cook  for  that  day,  conducted  him  to  the 
table,  placing  before  him  a  tin  plate  and  a  wooden  spoon,  asking, 
"Will  you  have  some  of  the  soup,  sir?"  He  looked  thin  and 
hungry,  but  he  said  gracefully,  "  No,  tank  you  ;  I  haf  never  eat 
soup."  This  being  the  first  and  last  "course,"  he  fasted,  we 
knowing  full  well  the  cause.  For  three  days  the  Baron  held  out, 


CAPT.  MERRILL'S  STORY.  405 

but  hunger  levels  the  best  of  us,  and  so  it  did  him,  for  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  third  day  he  left  the  table  filled  with  disgust,"  but 
he  was  filled  with  soup,  too.  To  say  that  he  was  shocked  at  the 
kind  and  manner  of  dispensing  rations,  was  nothing  compared  to 
his  unutterable  disgust  at  finding,  on  examination,  his  garments 
covered  with  "  graybacks."  This  completely  knocked  the  dignity 
out  of  him,  but  being  a  very  sensible  baron,  he  finally  laughed  the 
thing  off  by  saying  that  when  he  got  back  to  Russia  he  '•  vould 
hav  a  good  long  shoke  on  ze  boys."  He  remained  with  us  about 
six  weeks,  when  he  was  exchanged  through  the  Russian  Minister, 
and  on  his  arrival  at  Washington,  wrote  for  the  press  a  very  faith 
ful  account  of  our  trials,  which  was  copied  in  the  Richmond 
Examiner,  we,  through  our  "  warm  smoke  "  man,  obtaining  a 
copy. 

Commissioner  Ould  came  in  about  the  first  of  May,  informing 
us  that  there  seemed  no  hopes  of  an  exchange,  and  that  our  Gov 
ernment  had  sent  us  clothes — pants,  shirts  and  blouses.  We 
needed  the  clothes.  Being  without  needles  and  thread,  some  of 
the  company  would  have  made  a  very  distressing  appearance  in 
any  garden. 

The  goods  were  brought  in — a  box  containing  about  twenty- 
five  suits,  for  three  hundred  officers.  "  More  were  sent,  but  they 
were  captured  (?)  by  the  Confederates,"  said  the  Commissioner. 
Our  36th  squad  of  four,  in  the  lower  room,  received  one  shirt, 
which  we  wore  by  detail,  two  days  on  and  six  days  off.  The 
duty  in  this  case  was  light.  One  blessing  we  had,  and  that  was 
water — plenty  of  it,  and  good.  We  had,  too,  some  very  fine 
singers,  and  they  fairly  inocculated  the  walls  of  that  prison  with 
our  national  and  patriotic  melodies.  So  touching  were  they  to 
the  ears  of  the  guards  at  times,  that  they  often  came  in  to  listen 
— always  giving  an  order  on  such  occasions.  Of  the  many  offi 
cers  together  and  constantly  arriving,  but  one  feeling  actuated 
them — that  of  liberty  to  again  take  the  field.  The  best  of  har 
mony  prevailed  throughout  the  whole  time  of  imprisonment. 

Near  the  first  of  June,  at  midnight,  guards  appeared  with 
lights,  the  Adjutant  commanding  us  to  prepare  for  immediate 


406  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

departure  from  the  prison.  In  silence — a  silence  that  was  almost 
mournful — each  one  proceeded  to  obey  the  command,  for  all 
thoughts  were  busy  at  the  unexpected  relief  and  the  future.  All 
filed  out  into  the  street,  where  we  remained  for  half  an  hour,  then 
were  ordered  back  into  the  prison,  as  "  some  little  difficulty  with 
the  enemy  had  interrupted  communications,"  said  the  Adjutant. 
The  "  little  difficulty  "  proved  to  be  a  cavalry  raid,  in  which  our 
troops  got  within  eight  miles  of  Richmond,  so  we  learned  from  a 
wounded  officer  brought  in  the  next  morning.  All  took  the  mat 
ter  of  returning  coolly,  feeling  assured  that  release  would  soon 
come. 

And  so  it  did.  On  the  third  of  June,  again  at  midnight,  we 
were  marched  out  and  to  the  depot,  took  the  cars  for  City  Point ; 
arrived  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  boarded  the  steamer 
"  State  of  Main,"  and  were  under  the  old  flag.  Without  bustle 
or  confusion  she  steamed  from  the  dock,  and  when  our  captors 
were  no  longer  in  sight,  as  if  an  unseen  hand  had  touched  the 
magnet,  there  broke  from  those  four  hundred  and  fifty  throats  in 
song,  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner."  The  silence  was  broken, 
and  the  five  months  of  captivity  ended. 

Of  the  six  prisoners  of  the  36th  at  Libby  at  that  time,  but 
two  are  living,  Lieut.  Col.  Frank  Campbell  and  the  writer. 
Capt.  Wakeman  and  Lieut.  Smith  were  killed  at  Chicamauga, 
Col.  Miller  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Capt.  Hobbs  died  about  two 
years  ago  from  a  wound  received  at  Chicamauga.  A  great  many 
incidents  relating  to  the  imprisonment  may  have  passed  from  my 
memory  during  the  past  thirteen  years,  but  the  main  features  are 
as  fresh  to-day  as  then,  and  I  hope  they  may  remain  so  in  time 
to  come. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

MURFREESBORO. 

FTER  the  battle,  the  army  was  disposed  to  the  south 
of  Murfreesboro,  in  such  a  way  as  to  defend  the  dif 
ferent  approaches  to  the  town.  Our  brigade  was 
stationed  on  the  banks  of  Stone  river,  about  three 
miles  south  of  town,  on  the  Shelbyville  Pike.  The 
encampment  was  named  "  Camp  Bradley,"  in  com 
pliment  to  Col.  Bradley,  Commander  3rd  Brigade.  Some  one 
has  said  that  the  worst  thing  next  to  a  defeat  is  a  victory  ;  and 
certain  it  is  that  a  great  battle,  even  if  it  results  in  victory  and 
holding  the  objective  point,  brings  terrible  exhaustion  and  dis 
order.  Men  and  officers  are  literally  worn  out,  and  life  for  a 
time  seems  a  burden,  while  the  gaps  which  death  and  wounds 
have  made  in  the  ranks  of  both  officers  and  men,  not  only  weaken 
very  materially  the  force  of  the  army,  but  necessitate  such 
changes  as  for  a  time  throw  business  into  almost  inextricable 
confusion  and  perplexity.  The  wounded  must  be  cared  for,  the 
dead  buried,  the  promotions  and  changes  necessary  to  carry  on 
army  life  must  be  made  ;  then  reports,  company,  regimental, 
brigade,  division  and  corps,  must  be  made  out,  and  every  care 
taken  to  secure  the  property  and  pay  of  every  wounded  and  dead 


408  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

man,  and  whoever  is  familiar  with  the  minute  details  connected 
with  army  reports,  knows  that  this  is  a  stupendous  task.  Yet 
all  the  routine  of  military  life  must  go  on.  The  enemy  must  be 
watched,  the  army  clothed  and  fed,  defences  thrown  up,  and 
Everything  done  to  make  past  success  secure  and  prepare  for  fur 
ther  efforts. 

Everything  that  could  be  was  done  at  once  for  the  care  of  the 
wounded.  As  early  as  Monday  morning  after  the  battle,  a  train 
of  ambulances  took  to  Nashville  a  large  number  that  could  be 
moved,  and  on  the  following  Thursday,  Dr.  Pierce  and  I  accom 
panied  another  train  from  our  division.  It  was  long  after  night 
when  we  arrived,  and  as  we  went  around  from  church  to  church, 
and  from  building  to  building,  all  occupied  as  hospitals,  it  seemed 
for  a  time  as  though  we  should  scarcely  be  able  to  dispose  of  our 
suffering  charge.  And  indeed  it  was  not  until  after  midnight 
that  we  secured  a  resting  place  for  our  last  man,  and  could  our 
selves  lie  down  and  sleep. 

The  next  day  we  spent  in  visiting  the  wounded  of  our  imme 
diate  acquaintance,  many  of  whom  could  not  contain  their  joy  at 
seeing  some  one  from  the  regiment.  The  severely  wounded  who 
could  not  bear  so  long  a  journey  were  brought  into  the  Court 
House  and  the  private  houses  of  Murfreesboro.  Surgeons  were 
detailed  to  care  for  them,  and  everything  possible  for  their  com 
fort  and  recovery  was  done.  The  wounded  of  the  36th  who  thus 
remained  were  cared  for  incessantly,  not  only  by  our  own  sur 
geons,  Young  and  Pierce,  but  by  the  officers  and  men  of  their 
own  companies,  and  it  was  particularly  touching  to  see  the  tender 
interest  which  the  men  felt  in  their  suffering  comrades.  They 
would  send  their  gifts  by  me  as  I  started  to  visit  them,  and  on 
my  return  to  camp  I  was  plied  with  every  enquiry  as  to  their 
condition  and  prospects.  But  for  many  of  them  there  was  no 


A    DOUBLE   VICTORY   WON.  409 

hope,  and  one  after  another,  after  exhibiting  a  patience  and  hope 
fulness  truly  heroic,  succumbed  to  their  fate,  and  quite  a  number 
whose  names  appear  in  the  list  as  wounded,  were  soon  counted 
among  the  dead. 

Among  all  the  feelings  which  characterize  a  soldier,  none  is 
more  worthy  of  notice  than  the  solicitude  with  which  he  waits  to 
learn  how  the  news  of  his  deeds  is  received  at  home.  The  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  was  conscious  of  having  achieved  a  great  vic 
tory,  and  it  waited  to  learn  what  the  country,  and  especially  the 
loved  ones  at  home  thought  of  it.  For  awhile  communication 
was  broken  and  uncertain,  but  at  last  there  came  pouring  into 
camp,  bushels  of  letters  and  papers,  filled  with  praises  and  con 
gratulations.  No  language  seemed  too  strong  to  express  the 
pride  and  joy  of  the  people. 

It  was  found,  too,  that  we  had  been  fighting  a  double  battle 
and  had  won  a  double  victory.  The  sympathizers  with  the  South 
in  some  of  the  Northern  States,  and  especially  in  Illinois,  embold 
ened  by  the  delays  and  the  recent  disasters  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  had  determined  on  an  attempt  to  embarrass  and  even 
change  the  administration  in  Springfield,  and  call  home  the  Illi 
nois  troops.  But  the  victory  at  Stone  River,  and  especially  the 
determined  spirit  of  the  army,  checked  their  plans.  They  felt 
that  the  army  was  in  earnest  and  would  stand  no  trifling,  and 
when,  by  and  by,  Gov.  Yates  prorogued  the  Legislature,  even 
without  any  appropriations  for  carrying  on  the  Government,  the 
people  felt  relieved.  All  these  events  were  discussed  in  camp 
with  the  intensest  interest,  and  joined  with  the  enthusiastic  praises 
of  all  loyal  hearted  people,  seemed  to  make  some  compensation 
for  the  sacrifices  and  agonies  of  the  battle-field.  But  the  friends 
at  home  were  not  contented  with  sending  letters  and  congratula 
tions — they  sent  delegations  of  citizens  to  visit  us  and,  if  possible, 
27 


410  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

to  aid  us.  Though  Gen.  Rosecrans  issued  orders  against  civilians 
visiting  the  army,  a  few  of  the  many  who  came  down  to  Nash 
ville  succeeded  in  reaching  the  front.  Among  these  were  Messrs. 
Sherman,  Rosecrans  and  Mallory,  from  Elgin ;  Dr.  R.  Hopkins, 
of  Bristol,  and  a  pastor,  from  Warren  County.  Some  of  these 
gentlemen  and  quite  a  party  of  officers,  spent  one  whole  day  in 
exploring  the  battle-field,  going  over  especially  that  part  in  which 
the  36th  had  been  most  engaged.  We  stood  together  on  the  spot 
where  the  deadly  attack  of  the  31st  was  made,  and  listened  to  a, 
description  of  its  wild  horrors  from  the  lips  of  Major  Sherman 
and  others  who  were  present,  and  read  in  the  twisted  and  riven 
trees  a  silent  confirmation  of  the  terrible  story. 

We  then  passed  through  the  Cedar  Swamp  and  out  near  the 
Nashville  road,  where  were  remaining  the  very  barricades  which 
the  regiment  threw  up  in  the  first  days  of  January.  After  rid 
ing  fifteen  or  sixteen  miles,  we  returned,  weary  and  hungry,  but 
more  than  ever  impressed  with  the  greatness  and  importance  of 
the  deadly  struggle. 

In  January  and  February,  although  there  were  many  bright, 
beautiful  days  as  warm  and  genial  as  May,  yet  we  were  much 
tried  by  heavy  rain  storms,  some  of  which  ended  in  sleet  and 
snow.  Our  encampment  was  very  unfavorable  for  such  weather, 
and  many  of  the  tents  were  flooded  at  one  time  or  another,  while 
the  sound  of  the  river  was  like  the  rumbling  of  the  cars.  The 
journals  of  the  boys  at  this  time  were  filled  with  accounts  of  these 
terrible  inundations.  "  The  rain  ran  into  the  tent  so  hard,"  says 
one,  "  that  Fin  and  I  had  to  get  up  on  to  some  boxes  to  sleep. 
The  water  was  six  inches  deep."  The  rain  was  no  respecter  of 
persons,  for  Dr.  Young  wrote :  "  Last  night  was  a  terrible  night. 
Everything  was  afloat ;  our  tent  leaked  badly  ;  our  bed  was  sat 
urated.  The  water  was  from  three  to  six  inches  deep  all  over  our 


A    SOAKING   STORM.  411 

tent.     Our  things  swam  about  generally.     I  did  not  sleep  much, 
I  was  too  wet  and  cold.     Got  up  after  daylight  and  stood  up  on 
the  bed  to   dress  myself;  then  went  down  and  waded  out.     The 
whole  camp  was  overflowed  and  looked  like  a  vast  sea.     We  cast 
about  and  found  a  high  piece  of  ground,  and  then  took  up  our 
bed  and  walked.     We  soon  moved  our  tent  and  commenced  busi 
ness  on  a  new  basis,  from  a  higher  standpoint  in  society  and  Ten 
nessee.     After  awhile,  we  succeeded  in  getting  our  regular  hard- 
bread,  bacon  and  coffee  for  breakfast."      At  headquarters  they 
only  had  two  meals  that  day,  owing  to  the  storm.     This  unpleas 
ant  weather,  when  for  several  days  we  could  not  see  the  sun, 
was  a  time  for  feeling  lonesome  and  homesick  ;  but  when  the 
sun   came   out   again,  every   one  cheered  up.      We  were  com 
forted,  too,  with  the  knowledge    that  these  floods  would  swell 
the  Cumberland  River,  and    thus  vastly  increase  our  facilities 
for  supplying  the  army,  which   hitherto   had  depended  on   the 
single  line  of  railroad  and  the  wagon-train  from  Mitchellville.  A 
good   deal   of  extra  duty   also  was   performed  through   all   this 
stormy  time.     Gen.  Rosecrans  ordered  the  building  of  extensive 
and  elaborate  fortifications  to  the  north  of  Murfreesboro,  designed 
not  only  to  hold  the  point,  but  to  be  a  vast  storehouse  of  supplies, 
from  which  we  might  draw  after  we  had  advanced  further  south. 
These  works   were  admirably  constructed,   so  as  to   defend  the 
approaches  from  every   direction,  and  were  supplied  with  bomb 
proof  magazines  and  a  railroad  track   connecting  the  different 
sections  and  wings.      On   these  works  the  regiment  was  some 
times  detailed,  and  the  different  journals  unite  in  mentioning  one 
wet  Sunday  when  they  were  so  engaged. 

Sometimes,  also,  the  whole  brigade  was  sent  out  on  picket,  and 
quite  often  something  lively  would  occur  on  the  front  line,  as  on 
January  llth,  when  the  outposts  beyond  our  pickets  were  driven 


412  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

in  by  the  enemy,  shortly  after  npon.  The  whole  command  was 
under  arms  for  about  three  hours,  when  all  became  quiet.  It 
proved  to  be  a  reconnoitering,  party  and  did  not  trouble  our  pick 
ets.  Sometimes  the  boys  went  out  to  guard  a  forage  train,  and  their 
journals  make  glad  mention  of  the  supplies  which  the  different 
messes  obtained  on  these  excursions,  though  they  were  dreadfully 
fatiguing.  Not  always,  however,  were  they  so  safe,  for  Adju 
tant  Biddulph  writes,  February  4th :  "A  forage  train  was 
attacked  at  noon  and  cannonading  kept  up  all  the  afternoon. 
Re-inforcements  were  sent  for,  and  one  brigade  and  four  pieces 
of  artillery  were  started  out  from  our  division,  to  which  they 
returned  at  dark.  Some  of  the  Union  boys  were  killed  and 
wounded  during  the  skirmishing." 

About  this  time  a  number  of  important  changes  took  place 
which  ought  to  be  mentioned.  Assistant  Surgeon  William  P. 
Pierce,  formerly  Captain  of  Company  F,  received,  January  16th, 
the  appointment  of  Surgeon  of  the  88th  Illinois  Volunteers. 
This  was  a  most  worthy  and  creditable  promotion.  There  was 
but  one  feeling  throughout  the  regiment  in  regard  to  it,  for  Dr. 
P.  was  a  universal  favorite.  From  the  time  of  my  joining  the 
regiment  we  had  been  almost  uninterruptedly  together,  traveling 
night  and  day,  enduring  the  hardships  of  the  tent,  the  march  and 
the  battle,  while  our  startling  experience  at  Stone  River  had  given 
us  more  than  a  common  interest  in  each  other.  The  Doctor  was 
well  read,  a  delightful  and  intelligent  companion,  while  his  pro 
fessional  skill  was  of  a  high  order,  and  his  devotion  to  the  men 
most  exemplary.  His  sunny  face  and  ringing  voice  were  welcome 
everywhere. 

Alas,  that  there  were  some  of  whom  this  could  not  be  said,  but 
whom  in  the  days  of  extremity  it  would  have  been  a  relief  to 
boot  out  of  the  army.  In  looking  over  the  diary  of  Dr.  Young, 


COL.    GREUSELS   FAREWELL.  413 

I  find  the  following:  "  Dr.  Pierce  received  the  appointment  of 
Surgeon  in  the  88th,  and  left  us  this  afternoon.  How  lonesome 
I  shall  be  without  him.  We  have  been  together  continually  for 
the  past  year ;  have  messed  together,  rode  and  slept  together. 
I  regretted  to  have  him  go.  May  success  and  happiness  attend 
him  in  his  new  position." 

Col.  Greusel,  who  had  continued  in  command  of  the  brigade 
since  the  battle,  felt  constrained,  from  the  state  of  his  health,  to 
tender  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted  February  9th.  On 
the  15th  he  started  for  home,  but  before  doing  so  the  following 
farewell  address  was  read  to  the  brigade  and  regiment  on  dress 
parade : 

CAMP  SHERIDAN,  SALEM,  TENN.,  February  9th,  1863. 
To  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  36th  Regiment  Illinois   Vol 
unteers,  and  to  my  Brigade : 

FELLOW  SOLDIERS  : — I  am  about  breaking  the  ties  that  for 
nearly  two  years  have  bound  us  together,  having  received  an 
honorable  discharge  from  the  General  commanding  this  Depart 
ment,  on  account  of  my  health,  and  will  return  to  my  family  in 
Illinois.  In  parting  with  you,  beloved  soldiers,  I  feel  as  bad  as 
you  can  possibly  do,  for  we  have  gone  through  hardships  together 
that  will  form  many  fireside  entertainments  in  our  after  life,  until 
the  battle  of  this  life  is  ended,  and  we  join  those  brave  men  who 
fell  by  our  side  at  Pea  Ridge,  Perrysville,  Stone  River,  and  those 
who  fell  by  the  wayside.  Your  bravery  and  courage  in  the  face 
of  the  enemy  have  won  for  you  a  glorious  renown,  and  the  36th 
Illinois  will  be  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  bravest  of  the  brave. 
I  have  led  you  into  many  a  battle  and  I  feel  proud  to  say  that 
not  one  of  you  have  ever  faltered  or  turned  your  face  from  the 
enemy.  In  parting  with  you  I  feel  like  a  father  parting  from  his 
family ;  and  in  looking  back  to  Rolla,  Mo.,  and  seeing  how  you 
showed  your  love  for  your  old  man,  by  standing  by  me  through 
that  eventful  trial,  I  shall  always  remember  that  it  was  your  love 
that  kept  me  at  that  time.  This  war  is  not  yet  ended,  and  I 


414  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

fervently  hope  you  will  stand  by  the  flag  until  our  common  enemy 
is  subdued  and  humbled  in  the  dust.  Many  of  you  may  fall,  but 
always  remember,  what  would  your  homes  be  worth  if  you  and 
your  children  should  be  the  abject  slaves  of  our  country's  foe  ? 
Younger  men  will  lead  you,  and  may  God  direct  them  to  lead 
you  not  as  some  do,  but  as  soldiers  and  brave  men  should  be  led. 
I  have  one  thing  more  to  say,  and  that  is,  not  one  of  you  has 
ever  received  or  deserved  any  punishment  at  my  hand.  My  aim 
Was  love  to  you  all.  Tyranny  in  a  commanding  officer  is  one  of 
the  greatest  faults  of  some  men.  Show  me  a  regiment  of  care 
less,  shiftless  soldiers,  and  I  will  show  you  a  regiment  commanded 
by  a  tyrant. 

To  you,  my  brigade,  receive  my  hearty  thanks  for  valor  during 
battle,  your  kindness  while  in  camp,  and  for  the  mode  in  which 
you  have  always  obeyed  every  order,  no  matter  if  death  stared 
you  in  the  face  arid  how  many  fell,  in  order  to  do  your  whole 
duty  to  your  country.  I  am  glad  to  say  that  I  have  not  an 
enemy  in  the  whole  brigade.  Our  intercourse  has  been  pleasant. 
Often  when  short  of  rations  we  suifered  alike,  and  I  have  yet  to 
see  a  complaint  from  one  of  you. 

Now  I  bid  you  farewell,  and  may  God  soon  bring  this  strife  to 
a  close  and  allow  all  of  you  to  join  your  families  at  home. 

N.  GREUSEL. 

Lieut.  Col.  Jenks  was  promoted  from  the  Captaincy  of  Com 
pany  A  Cavalry,  which  was  at  the  time  in  Mississippi.  He 
immediately  started  for  the  regiment  and  took  command  January 
29th.  Col.  Jenks  was  a  man  of  excellent  abilities,  of  fine  taste 
and  culture,  a  man  whom  to  know  was  to  esteem.  But  unfortu 
nately  he  found  himself  in  a  position  equally  unpleasant  for  him 
self  and  the  regiment. 

It  was  felt  that  the  two  companies  of  cavalry  being  so  distinct 
in  organization  and  service,  ought  not  to  be  reckoned  in  the  line 
of  promotion,  but  that  the  regimental  officers  should  be  taken 
from  the  regiment  itself.  This  feeling  was  so  intense  that  neither 


A  NOVEL  USE  FOR  PHYSIC.  415 

kindness  nor  discipline  could  overcome  it.  At  one  time  it  seemed 
so  high  that  it  almost  threatened  mutiny,  when  Col.  Jenks  wisely 
resigned  and  returned  to  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  proved 
himself  so  successful.  Capt.  Olson  again  took  command  of  the 
regiment.  Near  the  same  time  Dr.  Young,  who  had  been  attacked 
with  a  severe  sickness — doubtless  a  premonition  of  the  disease 
which  finally  ended  his  life — decided  to  resign  also,  and  his  papers 
returning  in  time,  he  left  the  regiment  February  26th,  in  com 
pany  with  Lieut.  Col.  Jenks. 

Dr.  Young  had  been  identified  with  the  regiment  from  the 
first,  and  was  enthusiastically  attached  to  its  name  and  history. 
He  took  a  deep  and  personal  interest  in  all  its  concerns,  and 
contributed  much  to  the  hardy  and  healthy  character  of  the  men. 
He  was  the  unmitigated  foe  of  all  shirks,  and  many  a  man  who 
was  really  needing  medical  treatment,  preferred  to  wait  until  the 
last  moment  before  presenting  himself  among  the  "quinine  bri 
gade."  Without  doubt,  deserving  cases  were  sometimes  classed 
unjustly  among  the  pretenders,  but  on  the  other  hand  it  must  be 
confessed  that  Surgeon  Young  had  reason  sometimes  to  keep  wide 
awake.  One  of  the  boys  relates  the  following,  which  accounts 
for  what  seemed  to  me  at  first  a  strange  and  disgusting  practice, 
that  of  requiring  the  men  who  needed  oil  to  take  it  from  the 
bottle  at  the  Surgeon's  quarters.  Several  members  of  Company 
Gr  received  some  new  boots  from  home,  and  knowing  that  castor 
oil  was  a  good  preserver  of  leather,  they  made  repeated  visits  to 
the  Doctor's  quarters  for  physic,  always  carrying  the  oil  to  their 
tents  to  take  it  (so  they  told  the  Doctor).  Mistrusting  that  cer 
tain  parties  needed  a  good  deal  of  oil  for  a  common  camp  com 
plaint,  he  finally  found  out  they  oiled  their  new  boots  at  the 
expense  of  Uncle  Sam.  The  Doctor  ordered  physic  as  usual 
to  the  next  man  who  called  for  it,  but  when  the  victim  begged  the 


416  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

liberty  of  carrying  it  to  his  quarters  to  take  in  coffee,  the  Doctor 
requested  him  to  swallow  the  nauseous  dose  then  and  there. 
Being  fairly  caught  he  obeyed,  but  not  needing  any  oil  inwardly 
just  then,  the  result  was  anything  but  satisfactory. 

Dr.  Young  was  in  many  respects  a  remarkable  man  ;  his 
ability  as  a  Surgeon  was  of  a  high  order,  and  with  him  nothing 
seemed  too  much  to  do  for  his  friends.  I  had  one  instance  of 
such  kindness  which  I  valued  much.  A  personal  friend  in 
another  regiment,  who  had  been  sick,  was  taken  into  Murfrees- 
boro  and  placed  in  the  erysipelas  hospital.  It  was  some  time 
before  I  could  find  him,  and  then  he  was  in  such  a  terrible  con 
dition  by  reason  of  sores,  that  the  Surgeon  in  charge  evidently 
thought  there  was  no  hope  for  him,  and  no  use  in  bestowing  any 
particular  care  on  him.  On  mentioning  the  case  to  Dr.  Young, 
he  proposed  going  with  me,  which  he  did.  We  had  a  conver 
sation  with  the  Surgeon,  who  was  quickened  to  bestow  more 
effort  on  him.  We  continued  to  visit  him,  giving  help  in  an 
unofficial  way,  until  the  Surgeon  found  it  was  important  to  do  his 
best,  although  the  case  was  so  bad  that  I  read  in  Dr.  Y's  journal 
"he  will  die  in  a  few  days."  But  he  did  not.  Those  visits 
were  the  crisis  in  his  case,  and  after  the  Doctor  resigned,  I  con- 
t  inued  to  visit  him  until  he  was  able  to  be  removed  to  the  rear.  He 
subsequently  recovered,  and  is  now  a  prosperous  and  influential 
business  man. 

Dr.  F.  W.  Lytle,  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  51st  Illinois,  became 
Surgeon,  and  entered  on  his  duties  March  2nd.  The  same  week 
with  these  changes  we  were  ordered  to  make  camp  on  the  south 
side  of  Stone  river,  where  the  ground  was  higher  and  much 
better  adapted  for  the  purpose.  Here  we  remained  until  March 
18th. 


VISIT   OF   THE   PAYMASTER.  417 

A  good  deal  of  interest  centered  in  the  building  of  a  bridge, 
under  the  direction  of  some  of  the  officers  of  the  88th.  The  interest 
was  turned  into  sport  when  the  bridge  was  nearly  completed,  by 
its  suddenly  falling,  broken  by  its  own  weight.  "  Board  of 
Trade  bridge  "  became  a  standing  joke. 

A  still  deeper  interest  was  felt  about  this  time  in  the  visit  of 
the  Paymaster,  for  over  six  months  pay  was  due.  This  meant 
with  many  men,  heavy  debts  to  their  comrades,  the  sutler,  or 
both,  and  with  many  more,  hardships  for  the  families  at  home. 
The  daily  enquiry  was,  when  will  he  be  here  ?  and  as  he  visited 
one  regiment  after  another,  his  course  was  watched  with 
unwearying  solicitude.  If  the  importance  of  any  man  is  to  be 
judged  by  the  interest  felt  in  his  movements  by  others,  Major 
Mclntyre  was  a  great  man.  He  proved  to  be  an  excellent  man, 
of  whom  we  all  came  to  think  very  highly,  for  the  uniform  kind 
ness  with  which  he  discharged  his  delicate  and  often  perplexing 
duties. 

Immediately  after  receiving  pay  for  two  months  the  regiment 
was  called  out  on  a  ten  days  expedition  toward  Duck  river. 
On  the  4th  of  March  they  marched  at  seven  o'clock  A.  M.,  with 
four  days  rations,  leaving  the  hospital  department,  &c.,  behind. 
Dr.  Lytle  accompanied  the  troops.  During  this  absence  we 
were  subjected  to  the  usual  rumors  and  counter-rumors  which 
visit  camps  at  such  times,  and  were  kept  in  a  state  of  constant 
suspense  and  anxiety.  The  day  after  they  left  we  heard  very 
heavy  firing  in  the  direction  of  Nolensville,  and  were,  of  course, 
sure  that  our  boys  were  engaged.  Two  days  after,  firing  was 
heard  again,  and  reports  reached  us  that  sixty  of  Companies  A, 
C  and  G  were  prisoners.  On  the  9th,  orders  came  to  move 
everything,  with  the  report  that  Bragg  and  the  Vicksburg  army 
were  just  upon  us.  So  the  sick  were  sent  to  town,  everything 


418  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

was  packed,  and  we  waited  and  waited,  but  no  orders  came,  and 
we  pitched  our  tents  and  staid  all  night.  During  the  night  it 
stormed  heavily,  also  next  day,  when  orders  came  to  remain 
where  we  were.  The  day  after,  we  had  the  pleasure  of  welcom 
ing  Dr.  Hatch,  our  new  Assistant  Surgeon,  who,  to  distinguish 
him  from  Dr.  Lytle,  generally  passed  by  the  name  of  "  Little 
Doc,"  but  who,  in  activity,  faithfulness  and  imperturbable  good 
humor,  was  always  able  to  hold  his  own,  and  was  a  general 
favorite. 

But  still  time  dragged  heavily,  and  we  wished  that  either  the 
regiment  would  come  in,  or  we  might  be  sent  to  it.  At  last,  on 
Saturday  night  it  made  its  appearance  with  a  regular  36th 
shout,  and  each  man  running  to  be  first  in  camp,  Capt.  Olson 
crying  out  to  his  cook,  "  Supper  for  two,"  by  which  we  knew 
the  men  were  tired  and  hungry. 

They  told  us  that  the  division  went  out  on  the  4th  as  far 
as  Salem,  there  waiting  until  a  large  train  of  wagons,  escorted 
by  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  had  passed  by,  when  they  resumed  their 
march  through  Versailles  toward  Eagleville,  marching  in  all 
about  sixteen  miles.  They  learned  that  the  advance  cavalry  had 
charged  into  a  Rebel  camp  at  Eagleville,  captured  fifty  men  and 
all  of  their  camp  equipage.  Resuming  the  march  next  day  they 
saw  at  Eagleville  the  prisoners  and  wagons  captured  the  day 
before,  and  shortly  after  turned  off  the  road  and  bivouacked  for 
the  night,  the  36th  being  sent  on  picket.  Considerable  cannon 
ading  was  heard  to  the  left. 

Next  day  (6th),  the  pickets  were  called  in  at.  daylight,  and 
joining  the  division  the  march  was  resumed  until  ten  o'clock, 
when  they  bivouacked  again.  Company  E  was  sent  out  to  pro 
cure  some  meat  for  the  regiment.  They  brought  in  several  head 
of  cattle.  It  rained  all  day.  At  night  there  was  a  severe  thun- 


A   HEAVY   RAIN.  419 

der  storm,  and  the  rain  fell  in  torrents.  They  managed  to  keep 
pretty  dry,  however,  having  put  up  a  kind  of  shelter  called 
"  shebangs."  Next  day  it  was  still  raining,  making  the  roads 
horrible  for  artillery  and  marching,  but  at  half-past  one  P.  M. 
they  started,  drawing  two  days  rations  at  Triune,  and  then  turn 
ing  off  the  pike  towards  Franklin,  marching  until  half-past  five 
P.  M.,  went  into  camp. 

During  the  night  the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  and  the  ground  was 
flooded,  but  the  march  was  resumed  for  about  eight  miles,  and 
camp  was  reached  about  one  mile  from  Franklin,  the  right  wing, 
under  Capt.  Sherman,  going  on  picket.  The  next  day,  after 
passing  through  Franklin,  they  halted  until  the  artillery  came 
up,  then  moved  on  south,  passing  the  evacuated  camp  of  the 
Rebels,  who  retreated  before  them  through  Spring  Hill,  the  4th 
regular  cavalry  having  a  skirmish  with  them,  losing  three  men. 

Marched  about  fourteen  miles,  and  camped  at  Spring  Hill. 
It  rained  all  night,  and  they  were  pretty  wet  when  the  morning 
dawned.  At  eleven  o'clock  they  marched  seven  or  eight  miles. 
At  two  o'clock  halted  and  formed  line  of  battle  to  the  left  of 
the  pike.  The  cavalry  were  skirmishing  at  a  creek  about  half  a 
mile  from  them.  Some  came  in  that  were  wounded.  The  Rebels 
were  posted  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek.  At  five  o'clock 
went  into  camp  on  the  crest  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  creek,  the 
left  wing  going  on  picket  under  command  of  Capt.  Olson. 
Rain  had  fallen  all  day. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth  a  few  shots  were  fired  at  some 
Rebels  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek,  but  they  elicited  no  reply. 
At  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  the  right  wing  of  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  move  down  the  creek  about  a  mile,  as  a  support  to 
Col.  Minty's  Cavalry,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  Gen.  Sheridan 
ordered  the  left  wing  to  be  relieved  from  picket  by  the  88th  and 


420  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

brought  up.  The  cavalry  commenced  crossing  the  creek,  and  a 
strong  line  of  skirmishers  was  posted  to  the  right  and  left  of 
the  ford.  A  battery  in  the  rear  sent  a  shell  through  a  building 
on  the  opposite  bank  in  which  Forrest  was  said  to  be,  and  caused 
a  general  scattering.  The  boys  got  a  shot  at  some  of  the  Rebels, 
one  of  whom  was  seen  limping  off  as  if  he  had  been  struck 
with  a  bullet.  Returned  to  the  division  at  nine  P.  M.,  the 
cavalry  pursuing  the  enemy  to  Columbia.  They  commenced  the 
return  march  on  the  12th,  making  twenty  miles  to  camp  north 
of  Franklin  by  four  P,  M.  At  eight  o'clock  next  morning 
they  passed  through  Franklin,  crossed  the  country  to  the  Wilson 
Pike,  leading  to  Triune,  near  which  they  camped  about  five  o'clock, 
after  fifteen  miles  march.  Next  day  (Saturday,  14th,)  the  bri 
gade  was  rear  guard,  and  so,  late  in  starting  and  in  coming  in, 
arrived  at  Camp  Bradley  just  before  dark,  having  marched 
twenty-three  miles. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

MURFREESBORO    CONTINUED. 

|N  TUESDAY,  March  17th,  Major  Mclntyre 
paid  off  the  regiment  again,  and  next  day  we 
moved  camp  to  a  fine  piece  of  ground  very  near 
Murfreesboro,  on  the  Franklin  Pike.  At  Camp 
Schaffer  we  remained  until  our  march  south, 
June  24th.  On  going  out  on  picket  duty  next 
day,  the  whole  picket  line  was  drawn  in  to  the  north  of  Stone 
River.  For  some  time  a  constant  alarm  was  kept  up  that  some 
part  of  our  line  was  to  be  attacked.  On  Saturday,  21st,  the 
Rebels  attacked  our  pickets  in  strong  force.  The  Brigade  was 
ordered  out  and  marched  as  far  as  Gen.  Sheridan's  headquarters, 
remaining  under  arms  for  several  hours,  when  the  enemy  being 
driven  off,  we  returned  to  camp.  In  the  afternoon  there  was  a 
division  review  by  Gen.  Sheridan,  in  preparation  for  a  more 
elaborate  one  by  Gen.  Rosecrans  on  Monday.  This  day  was  also 
to  be  noted  for  the  arrival  of  a  number  of  commissions — among 
them  that  of  Major  Miller,  as  Colonel;  Capt.  George  D.  Sher 
man,  as  Major,  and  Adj.  George  G.  Biddulph,  as  Captain  Com 
pany  K.  Major  Sherman  commanded  the  regiment.  Gen. 
Sheridan  was  highly  sensitive  about  the  condition  of  his  com- 


422  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

mand,  and  always  sought  to  have  it  in  the  best  possible  state. 
He  was  anxious  in  the  forthcoming  review  that  his  division  should 
appear  worthy  of  its  reputation.  His  desire  communicated  itself 
to  all  the  officers  and  men,  and  on  Saturday,  Sunday  and  Mon 
day  great  pains  were  taken  to  bring  everything  into  presentable 
appearance ;  every  man's  clothing,  arms,  accoutrements  and 
boots  underwent  a  thorough  cleansing.  At  noon  the  review  took 
place,  the  Commanding  General  being  accompanied  by  Gens. 
Garfield,  McCook  and  Sheridan.  These  officers  made  a  magnifi 
cent  appearance,  and  Geri.  Rosecrans  complimented  the  36th. 
As  he  passed  our  flag  and  saw  the  name  on  it,  he  said,  ''Well, 
they  say  the  old  36th  will  march  further  and  do  it  easier  than 
any  regiment  we  have  got."  "Well,  boys,"  said  he,  "  does 
Gen.  Sheridan  take  good  care  of  you?"  Some  one  answered, 
though  as  the  drums  were  beating  he  did  not  hear  it,  "  Yes,  only 
he  don't  give  us  vinegar  enough."  Mrs.  Rosecrans,  Mrs.  Mc 
Cook,  Mrs.  Sherman  and  Mrs.  Pierce  were  among  the  reviewing 
party  as  the  regiment  marched  by  the  General. 

On  the  26th  the  whole  brigade,  with  Col.  Bradley 's  brigade, 
went  out  one  and  a-half  miles  on  the  Salem  pike,  remaining  five 
days.  These  were  trying  days,  as  the  rain  fell  heavily  and  the 
enemy  made  several  attacks  upon  our  videttes,  so  the  troops  had 
to  be  under  arms  at  daylight,  and  fall  in  quickly  when  the  alarm 
was  given. 

On  Sunday,  29th,  I  went  out  to  the  regiment  and  held  ser 
vices  both  morning  and  afternoon  for  the  first  time  since  I  joined 
the  army.  During  all  the  time  we  remained  in  this  camp  I  went 
out  and  preached  to  the  regiment  when  it  was  away  on  the  Sab 
bath  ;  once,  in  a  manner  which  excited  some  interest.  April  5th, 
the  brigade  was  out  on  picket  to  the  west  of  town,  the  right  of 
the  36th  resting  on  Wilkinson  pike.  In  the  morning  Col.  Sher- 


A    SERIES    OF    PRESENTATIONS.  423 

man  sent  an  order  for  every  officer  without  exception  to  go  out. 
Although  not  customary  for  a  Chaplain  to  go  on  such  occasions, 
the  men  being  divided  for  the  different  stations,  yet  I  obeyed 
the  order,  and  Major  Sherman  accompanying  me,  I  passed  from 
station  to  station,  and  preached  a  short  sermon  to  the  men  not 
out  on  the  line.  While  thus  engaged  at  one  point,  Col.  Sherman 
and  his  staff  rode  up  inspecting  the  line,  and  of  course  the  men 
were  expected  to  turn  out  and  salute  him  as  he  passed  ;  but  I 
went  on  with  the  service,  and  the  Colonel  lost  his  salute,  which 
gave  considerable  amusement  to  the  officers  who  had  been  per 
emptorily  ordered  out.  On  this  same  day  we  were  agitated  by 
learning  that  a  spy  had  attempted  to  pass  through  Crittenden's 
lines.  He  was  caught,  but  being  confined,  tried  to  escape,  and 
was  shot  by  the  guard,  but  that  not  stopping  him,  a  soldier,  who 
had  been  in  the  guard  house  for  some  fault,  caught  up  a  gun  and 
shot  him  dead.  In  his  stockings  were  found  all  necessary 
information  about  our  forces  and  drawings  of  the  fortifications. 
The  General  said  the  soldier  need  not  return  to  the  guard-house. 

Early  in  April  we  had  quite  a  series  of  presentations.  On 
the  2nd  I  presented  a  beautiful  sword  to  Capt.  Cass,  in  behalf 
of  Company  D,  on  the  occasion  of  his  promotion  to  the  Cap 
taincy.  The  next  was  one  of  very  general  interest  to  the  regi 
ment  and  finds  a  place  in  the  journals,  but  I  have  failed  to 
obtain  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  as  printed  at  the  time,  and  so 
am  compelled  to  give  some  extracts  from  a  private  letter  written 
a  day  or  two  after. 

On  the  18th,  at  the  close  of  dress  parade,  instead  of  dispers 
ing  as  usual,  Major  Sherman  brought  the  regiment  into  the  shape 
of  a  half  moon,  the  officers  in  advance,  when  a  messenger  was 
sent  for  me.  On  repairing  at  once  to  the  Major,  I  found  Dr. 
Pierce  and  a  number  of  officers  from  the  88th.  Dr.  Pierce  and  I 


424  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

were  requested  to  step  forward,  when  Capt.  Olson  addressed  us, 
describing  the  feelings  of  himself  and  officers  at  having  to  retire 
on  31st  December,  and  leave  such  a  number  of  our  dead  and 
wounded  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  ;  how  at  last  tidings  were 
brought  that  we  had  volunteered  to  remain  with  them  ;  how  their 
hearts  were  relieved,  and  that  they  desired  to  express  their 
appreciation  of  what  we  did  in  some  form  which  should  be  a 
memento  of  their  regard.  He  then  addressed  me,  saying,  it  was 
often  remarked  that  Chaplains  were  of  no  use  in .  the  army,  but 
I  had  shown  that  a  Chaplain  could  be  as  useful  and  more  so  than 
any  other  officer  in  the  regiment,  &c.  He  handed  me  a  most 
beautiful  sword  and  belt.  He  then  addressed  Dr.  Pierce,  and 
gave  him  one  of  a  different  pattern  but  equally  fine.  I  felt  just 
on  the  point  of  crying,  and  motioned  to  Dr.  Pierce  to  speak 
first,  which  he  did,  doing  first-rate,  but  he  said  he  had  to  stop  or 
he  should  have  been  crying.  I  then  spoke,  but  made  a  botch  of 
it.  Then  came  hearty  congratulations  from  both  officers  and 
men.  Dr.  Pierce  proposed  to  stay  with  the  36th,  but  a  number 
of  his  88th  officers  being  present  threatened  to  get  up  another 
for  him  in  their  regiment.  This  was  the  first  presentation  ever 
made  by  the  regiment,  and  when  they  make  a  demonstration 
they  meant  it.  It  was  no  sham,  but  a  heart-felt  act,  undeserved 
on  our  part  but  exceedingly  gratifying. 

The  third  presentation  consisted  of  a  splendid  sword,  with 
jeweled  hilt,  sash,  belt,  revolvers,  etc.,  made  April  16th,  to  Gen. 
Sheridan,  by  all  the  officers  in  his  division,  as  a  personal  com 
pliment  to  him  on  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of  Major  General. 
The  whole  cost  from  twelve  to  fourteen  hundred  dollars.  The 
presentation  speech  was  made  by  Col.  Sherman,  and  the  General's 
reply  was  a  model  of  neatness  and  appropriateness.  The  36th 
had  felt  an  unflagging  interest  in  Gen.  Sheridan  from  their  first 


RESULTS    OF   BATHING   IN   THE    RIVER.  425 

acquaintance  with  him  when  he  was  a  Captain  in  the  regular 
army,  and  Quarter-master  in  Missouri,  and  not  a  few  were  ready 
to  prophesy  his  rapid  advance  in  rank  if  the  war  continued. 
His  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River  brought  him  into  promi 
nent  notice  and  opened  the  way  for  his  brilliant  and  honorable 
career. 

By  this  time  the  weather  was  becoming  inconveniently  warm, 
and  the  regiment  engaged  pretty  generally  in  building  sheds  over 
their  tents,  to  keep  them  cool.  By  allowing  them  to  extend  over 
the  front  of  the  tent  and  then  planting  large  evergreens  at  inter 
vals,  a  cool  verandah  was  secured,  and,  at  least  until  the  leaves 
withered,  a  very  pretty  effect  was  procured. 

One  of  the  favorite  recreations  at  this  time  was  bathing  in 
Stone  River,  and  no  doubt  many  a  record  could  be  made  like 
that  given  by  Dryden,  Company  C,  who  says:  "In  camp  at 
Murfreesboro  I  received  my  first  and  only  black  mark.  A  num 
ber  of  us  were  swimming  in  the  river  one  evening,  and  by  hard 
running  reached  Company  I  just  as  Wilson  got  through  calling 
the  roll.  Next  morning  we  took  a  wagon  and  built  a  brush  shed 
over  Lieut.  Turnball's  quarters  as  <  fatigue  duty, '  (?)  all  the  pun 
ishment  I  ever  received  in  the  army." 

A  favorite  amusement  all  through  our  Murfreesboro  stay  was 
base  ball,  and  many  an  hour  was  spent  at  Camp  Schaffer  in  this 
absorbing  game.  Sometimes  the  fun  was  varied  by  a  contest  with 
some  other  regiment,  and  though  the  36th  were  very  skillful,  they 
sometimes  met  their  match,  as  one  record  very  candidly  says : 
"  In  the  afternoon  eight  boys  of  the  24th  Wisconsin  played  ball 
against  eight  of  ours  and  beat  us  (!)  by  fifty — a  very  interesting 
game. 

April  14th  we  were  again  paid  off,  and  on  that  day  the  whole 
regiment  was  made  to  sympathise  with  a  heavy  affliction  which 

28 


426  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

fell  upon  Lieut.  Clark,  Company  E.  His  wife  had  been  danger 
ously  sick  for  some  time,  and  two  weeks  before  he  had  used  every 
effort  to  secure  a  leave  of  absence  for  a  few  days  to  visit  her. 
But  leaves  of  absence  were  discouraged  at  headquarters,  and  one 
was  refused  him,  and  when  a  telegram  was  sent  informing  him 
of  her  death,  the  whole  regiment  felt  it  as  a  personal  affliction. 
A  leave  of  absence  was  now  procured  for  him,  and  in  a  few  hours 
he  started  for  his  desolate  home  and  motherless  children. 

On  the  18th  we  had  a  meeting  of  which  officers  and  men  have 
been  proud  ever  since.  An  act  of  Congress  made  it  the  duty  of 
every  chaplain  "  to  report  to  the  colonel  commanding  the  regi 
ment  to  which  he  is  attached,  at  the  end  of  each  quarter,  the 
moral  and  religious  condition  of  the  regiment,  and  such  sugges 
tions  as  may  conduce  to  the  social  happiness  and  moral  improve 
ment  of  the  troops."  In  my  report  for  the  quarter  ending  March 
31st,  were  the  following  passages  :  "  Our  volunteer  army  sustains 
peculiar  relations  to  the  country.  It  is  not  composed  of  men 
who  have  taken  up  arms  as  a  chosen  profession,  but  of  men  from 
every  calling  and  walk  in  life,  who,  because  their  flag  has  been 
insulted  and  their  loved  country  imperilled,  have  laid  all  aside  for 
awhile,  that  treason  may  be  rebuked  and  our  glorious  Govern 
ment  saved.  This  done,  they  expect  to  return  to  the  quiet  pur 
suits  of  civil  life ;  the  student  to  his  books  and  profession,  the 
merchant  to  his  desk,  and  the  farmer  to  his  land.  This  army, 
then,  is  not  only  at  present  the  bulwark  of  the  republic,  destined 
to  beat  back  the  waves  of  sedition,  .but  being  composed  in  a  great 
measure  of  the  young  and  promising,  it  will  for  years  to  come 
constitute  the  very  strength  of  our  land,  while  the  spirit  our  sold 
iers  cultivate  and  the  habits  they  form  will  be  a  controlling  ele 
ment  in  the  nation  long  after  the  war  has  been  brought  to  a  suc 
cessful  issue.  In  the  meantime,  the  volunteer  is  the  object  of 


REST   ON   SUNDAYS.  427 

intensest  solicitude  to  his  friends  at  home,  not  only  on  account  of 
physical  dangers  which  stand  thick  on  every  hand,  but  of  the 
vices  and  habits  which  army  life,  away  from  the  restraining  and 
refining  influences  of  home,  is  found  frequently  to  foster.    Respect, 
then,  for  the  feelings  and  wishes  of  the  good  and  honored  at  home, 
anxiety  for  the  present  and  eternal  welfare  of  the  soldier  and  an 
enlightened  regard  for  the  future  of  our  country,  combine  to  press 
upon  all  in  situations  of  authority,  the  importance  of  surround 
ing  the  soldier  with  every  influence  that  may  foster  virtue  and 
repress  vice.     Foremost  amongst  these  powers  for  good  is  the 
observance  of  the  Sabbath.     The  President  of  the  United  States 
and  Commander-in-Chief,  feeling  his  responsibility  in  this  regard, 
issued  his  general  order  about  four  months  ago,  and  the  general 
commanding  this  department  has  since  given  to  this  army  Sab 
bath  rest,  except  when  the  pressing  necessities  of  the  service  pre 
vented.     It  is  probable  that  this  course  will  be  pursued  in  the 
future.     But  the  full  benefits  of  Sabbath  observance  are  enjoyed 
only,  when  besides  rest  for  the  body,  the  mind  is  turned  to  the 
contemplation  of  the  works  and  will  of  God.      Our  facilities  for 
doing  this  are  much  fewer  than  in  civil  life,  rendering  it  import 
ant  to  make  the  best  use  of  the  means  we  possess,  that  as  much 
of  the  day  as  possible  may  be  occupied,  and  the  soldier  be  not 
left  to  that  vacuity  of  mind  which  is  the  sure  parent  of  vice.     I 
therefore  respectfully  recommend  that  whenever  the  weather  and 
military  duties  will  permit,  arrangements  be  made  for  two  public 
meetings  on  the  Sabbath,  believing  that  the  interest  which  has 
hitherto  been  manifested  in  one  service,  and  the  good  which  has 
flowed  from  it,  will  justify  the  step.     A  second  most  potent  influ 
ence  for  good,  is  well  selected  reading. 

I  propose  to  continue  my  past  course  with  respect  to  religious 
reading.     I  find  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  money  for  this  purpose, 


428  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

as  the  report  read  a  few  weeks  ago  to  the  regiment  clearly  shows, 
but  I  have  frequently  to  refuse  contributions,  as  we  have  not  trans 
portation  sufficient  to  justify  keeping  a  large  assortment  on  hand. 
It  is  necessary  that  the  men  should  be  supplied  with  read 
ing  of  a  more  general  character,  which  shall  combine  amuse 
ment  with  instruction,  thus  contributing  to  the  contentment  and 
mental  vigor  of  the  soldier,  and  preserving  him  from  the  deleteri 
ous  eifects  of  the  debasing  trash  which  he  often  reads  because  it 
is  all  he  can  obtain.  The  small  libraries  now  in  the  hands  of  dif 
ferent  companies,  suggest  a  feasible  plan  by  which  this  lack  may 
be  supplied.  One  hundred  or  one  hundred  and  fifty  volumes 
might  be  selected  from  the  catalogues  of  different  publishers, 
which  being  divided  into  five  or  six  libraries,  would  add  but  little 
to  the  transportable  property  of  a  company.  At  intervals,  each 
library  might  be  changed,  until  the  whole  had  been  within  the 
reach  of  the  entire  regiment,  and  the  advantages  of  a  regimental 
library  be  enjoyed  without  the  embarrassment  which  would  arise 
from  keeping  the  books  all  together.  I  would  respectfully 
recommend  that  whenever  the  prospect  of  the  regiment's  remain 
ing  in  camp  is  such  as  to  warrant  the  experiment,  such  a  plan 
should  be  adopted,  convinced  that  it  would  conduce  to  the  social 
happiness  and  moral  improvement  of  the  troops." 

Both  these  recommendations  were  heartily  adopted.  Until  our 
removal  from  Murfreesboro  we  held  two  public  services  on  the 
Sabbath,  whenever  other  duties  did  not  interfere,  and  our  camp 
on  that  day  became  as  quiet  and  orderly  as  a  New  England  vil 
lage,  and  all  not  by  order,  but  by  the  voluntary  choice  of  the 
regiment.  The  second  recommendation  found  a  hearty  response 
from  the  officers,  and  on  Saturday  night,  April  18th,  just  before 
dark,  a  meeting  was  called  of  the  whole  regiment,  and  the  plan 
of  the  regimental  library  laid  before  them.  An  eye  witness  says  : 
"  When  the  motion  was  put  to  go  into  the  plan,  you  should  have 


THE  SOLDIER'S  LIBRARY.  429 

heard  the  'Aye/  Whoever  thinks  that  soldiers  are  degraded, 
would  learn  something  from  that  sound.  If  they  are  degraded, 
it  is  because  no  one  tries  to  elevate  them.  Good  seed  never  found 
richer  soil  than  here  in  the  army."  Subscription  papers  for  each 
company  had  been  prepared  and  were  now  distributed,  and  after 
singing,  "My  Country  'Tis  of  Thee,"  the  meeting  broke  up.  In 
about  an  hour  $200  was  brought  in,  which  was  soon  swelled  to 
$350.  The  only  danger  now  seemed  to  be  that  our  library  would 

be  too  large,  but  we  hoped  by  dividing  it  into  thirteen  sections 

placing  one  in  the  care  of  each  company  and  one  for  headquar 
ters — that  it  would  not  prove  burdensome,  while  at  the  same  time 
affording  every  facility  for  self-improvement.  The  Chaplain  was 
prouder  of  his  regiment  that  night  than  ever,  and  especially  as 
both  officers  and  men  insisted  that  the  books  should  be  of  sterling 
value.  The  task  of  selecting  and  organizing  such  a  library  so  as 
to  give  variety  and  appropriateness  to  each  section,  proved  to  be 
very  heavy,  and  having  to  be  accomplished  at  such  a  great  dis 
tance  from  the  publishers,  necessarily  took  a  good  deal  of  time, 
and  was  only  finished  at  last  by  the  kind  assistance  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Cass,  of  Como,  who,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  brother,  Captain  of 
Company  D,  volunteere/1  to  take  the  oversight  of  the  purchase  of 
the  works  and  to  issue  the  catalogue  after  all  the  lists  had  been 
prepared.  Messrs.  Griggs  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  furnished  the  books 
and  presented  us  with  a  copy  of  "  Webster's  Unabridged." 
Although  the  work  was  pushed  with  all  speed  possible,  we  did 
not  receive  our  library  before  we  left  Murfreesboro  and  the 
interruptions  of  our  advance  south  hindered  still  more,  so  that  it 
was  not  till  we  had  camped  at  Bridgeport  that  the  library  arrived 
and  was  distributed.  Further  reference  will  be  made  to  it  when 
we  reach  that  point. 

On  the  21st,  Brig.  Gen.  Lytle  took  command  of  the  brigade. 
He  was  from  Ohio ;  had  distinguished  himself  in   the  campaign 


430  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

in  West  Virginia,  and  at  Perryville,  where  he  was  wounded. 
On  his  recovery  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  our  brigade. 
He  was  a  brave  and  competent  officer,  highly  respected  by 
all  who  came  in  contact  with  him.  On  the  29th  an  order  was 
issued  requiring  all  the  wall-tents,  except  one  for  each  company 
and  three  for  the  field  and  staff,  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Quar 
ter-master.  This  made  a  great  fluttering,  as  it  confined  all  the 
men  to  their  shelter  tents,  and  brought  the  officers  into  tight 
places.  But  necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,  and  the  men 
procuring  boards  and  other  material  for  the  sides  of  their  quarters, 
and  using  the  shelter  tent  for  the  roof  only,  succeeded  in  making 
themselves  comfortable.  The  order  fell  specially  hard  on 
the  hospital  department  and  the  chaplains,  indeed  the  latter  were 
thereby  deprived  both  of  all  personal  accommodations  and  all 
opportunity  for  doing  their  work.  At  this  time,  besides  our  pub 
lic  services,  I  had  regular  meetings  in  my  tent  five  nights  every 
week.  Our  officers  would  not  hear  of  my  tent  being  taken.  The 
Quarter-master  did  not  touch  it,  and  Gen.  Lytle  very  kindly  sent 
me  word  to  hold  on  to  it.  In  the  end  the  position  of  chaplains 
was  actually  benefitted  by  the  order,  for  Gen.  Rosecrans  had 
been  supposed  for  some  time  to  make  distinctions  in  favor  of 
Catholic  chaplains,  but  now  the  three  Corps  Commanders,  who 
were  strong  Protestants,  threatened  to  appeal  to  Washington  if 
the  chaplains  were  deprived  of  their  tents.  Gen.  McCook 
invited  all  his  chaplains  to  meet  at  his  quarters,  where  they  filled 
a  large  room.  He  spoke  to  them  kindly  and  with  evident 
understanding  of  the  annoyances  to  which  many  of  them  were 
exposed.  He  said  he  had  made  arrangements  that  all  his  chap 
lains  should  have  a  tent  of  any  kind  they  chose,  to  be  their  own, 
not  to  be  touched  by  any  other  officer,  nor  controlled  by  the 
Quartermaster ;  that  transportation  should  be  afforded  by  the 


A   WEDDING   ON   THE    BATTLE    FIELD.  431 

Colonel ;  that  he  wanted  to  receive  a  report  from  each  as  to 
whether  they  were  comfortable  and  well  cared  for,  and  that  so 
long  as  he  had  a  place  to  sleep  and  food  to  eat  they  should  have 
both.  Before  we  separated  an  order  came  from  Gen.  Rosecrans 
giving  to  each  chaplain  his  own  tent,  thus  ending  the  agitation, 
and  making  comfortable  and  useful  many  a  chaplain  who  received 
no  attention  from  the  officers  of  his  own  regiment.  In  the  36th 
it  made  no  difference  except  to  make  their  Chaplain  feel  how 
strong  both  he  and  his  work  were  in  the  hearts  of  officers  and 
men. 

At  the  close  of  this  meeting  the  chaplains  were  invited  to 
attend  a  wedding  to  be  celebrated  next  day  on  the  spot  at  the 
extreme  left  of  our  line,  where  had  been  the  hardest  fighting  on 
January  2nd.  Inviting  Maj.  Sherman  to  accompany  me,  the  news 
spread,  and  the  result  was  that  the  Major,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Pierce, 
Mrs.  Sherman,  Mrs.  Cushing  and  Quarter-master  Sutherland,  all 
went  over  together,  arriving  just  as  the  ceremony  was  being  per 
formed.  Immediately  after,  Gens.  McCook,  Crittenden  and 
Johnson  arrived.  We  were  all  introduced  in  turn  to  the  bridal 
party,  and  extended  our  congratulations.  The  bridegroom  held 
a  position  in  the  army,  the  bride  was  a  lady  who  had  been  in  the 
service  of  the  Sanitary  Commission. 

Any  description  of  our  camp  life  in  Murfreesboro  would  be 
defective  if  it  did  not  make  special  mention  of  the  intense  inter 
est  with  which  all  the  movements  of  other  armies  were  regarded. 
The  army  of  the  Potomac  was  watched  and  criticised  unsparingly. 
The  army  of  the  South-west,  which  at  this  time  was  concentrat 
ing  for  the  capture  of  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  excited  the 
deepest  solicitude,  for  we  were  destined  to  feel  the  effects  of  its 
movement,  whatever  they  proved  to  be.  Many  and  fierce  were 
the  debates  to  which  the  daily  events  gave  rise,  and  men  and 


432  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

officers  grew  hot  as  they  discussed  the  various  phases  of  the  war 
and  the  competency  and  incompetency  of  Generals  in  com 
mand.  No  better  example  of  camp  excitement  could  be  given 
than  that  afforded  by  the  report  which  thrilled  the  whole  country 
on  Sunday,  May  10th,  that  our  troops  had  entered  Richmond. 
For  twenty-four  hours  the  camps  had  been  full  of  anxiety,  but 
when  the  news  finally  came,  about  noon,  even  Gen.  Sheridan  was 
so  much  carried  away  by  the  excitement  that  he  galloped  to  the 
headquarters  of  one  of  the  brigades  without  his  hat.  It  was 
quite  dispiriting  when  we  found  that  only  our  cavalry  had  been 
within  sight  of  Richmond,  giving  the  Confederate  rulers  a  terrible 
scare,  but  nothing  more. 

On  the  llth  of  May,  Capt.  Olson  became  Lieut.  Colonel,  and 
took  command  of  the  regiment.  This  promotion  was  highly  hon 
orable  to  that  worthy  officer,  whose  fidelity  and  courage,  tested 
both  in  camp  and  field,  had  won  the  confidence  of  the  regiment. 
The  appointment,  too,  will  never  cease  to  be  equally  honorable 
to  Major  Sherman,  who,  though  himself  the  ranking  officer,  and 
entitled  to  retain  the  position,  by  recommending  Capt.  Olson  as 
Major,  a  course  which  was  often  taken  in  the  army,  and  did  not 
lack  for  advocates  on  this  occasion,  yet  voluntarily  recommended 
him  for  the  position  of  Lieut.  Colonel,  himself  retaining  the 
Majorship,  an  instance  of  self-abnegation  as  honorable  as  it  was 

rare. 

About  this  time  we  were  in  daily  expectation  of  welcoming  the 
return  of  the  officers  who  had  been  wounded  and  captured  on  the 
ever  memorable  December  31st.  These  were  Maj.  Silas  Miller, 
Capts.  B.  F.  Campbell,  Albert  M.  Hobbs  and  0.  B.  Merrill,  and 
Lieuts.  S.  H.  Wakeman,  John  F.  Elliot  and  Myron  Smith.  They 
had  been  sent  after  the  battle,  first,  to  Atlanta,  and  then  to  Libby 
prison,  Richmond,  which  at  that  time  was  at  the  height  of  its 


RETURN   OF    COL.    MILLER.  433 

reputation  for  filth  and  wretchedness,  and  its  keepers  for  general 
heartlessness  and  bitter  hatred  of  all  who  came  into  their  hands. 
Although  for  the  most  part  we  were  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  con 
dition  of  our  officers,  yet  now  and  then  a  few  meagre  items  of 
information  were  obtained,  sufficient  to  whet  our  curiosity  and 
awaken  the  liveliest  interest  in  their  welfare. 

Our  solicitude  was  not  a  little  increased  by  learning  that  Gen. 
Willich  and  Maj.  Miller  had  been  selected  as  hostage,  and  were 
threatened  with  death.  But  as  time  wore  on  and  the  exchange 
of  prisoners  proceeded  we  began  to  anticipate  the  pleasure  of  wel 
coming  them  home.  On  the  16th  day  of  May,  Maj.  Miller 
addressed  the  citizens  of  Aurora,  giving  a  glimpse  not  only  of 
army,  but  also  of  prison  life,  from  which  much  of  his  story  in  a 
former  chapter  has  been  taken. 

The  interest  of  the  regiment  in  his  return  was  increased  by  his 
promotion  to  the  rank  of  colonel ;  not  simply  his  by  virtue  of  his 
seniority,  but  felt  to  be  well  earned  by  his  singular  fidelity  and 
courage.  On  the  5th  of  May,  Capts.  Wakeman  and  Campbell 
returned  and  received  a  hearty  welcome,  but  it  was  not  until  the 
23rd  that  Col.  Miller  arrived.  For  several  days  he  had  been 
eagerly  expected,  and  on  the  22nd  we  learned  that  he  and  Capt. 
Hobbs  had  arrived  in  Nashville  and  would  be  out  next  day. 
Lieut.  Col.  Olson  and  a  number  of  officers  met  him  at  the  train. 
His  horse,  which  fortunately  had  been  saved  from  the  battle  was 
led  down,  and  as  soon  as  word  was  brought  that  the  party  were 
approaching  camp,  the  whole  regiment  turned  out  and  stood 
waiting  until  the  Colonel  appeared,  when  they  broke  into  their 
wildest  cheer,  which  with  the  36th  meant  a  great  deal  of  noise. 
He  galloped  at  once  among  them,  grasping  the  hands  of  the  men 
as  they  crowded  around  his  horse,  and  gave  himself  up  to  as 
hearty  a  welcome  as  was  ever  given  by  a  regiment  to  its  com 
mander.  Soon  the  officers  of  the  other  regiments  in  the  brigade 


434  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

made  their  appearance,  crowding  the  head-quarters  tent.  The 
band  of  the  24th  Wisconsin  came  over  and  played  in  their  best 
style  "Home  Again,"  and  for  several  hours  nothing  seemed 
thought  of  but  congratulations  and  joy  at  the  return  of  one  who 
had  led  the  regiment  so  bravely,  and  suffered  for  it  so  greatly  and 
so  long.  At  the  first  dress  parade,  held  a  few  days  afterward,  all 
endeavored  to  be  present,  Surgeons  and  Chaplain,  too,  in  com 
pliment  to  the  Colonel,  to  whom  it  was  a  great  gratification  to  be 
surrounded  by  those  so  enthusiastically  attached  to  the  cause  and 
to  himself.  About  the  same  time  quite  a  number  of  our  paroled 
men  returned  from  parole  camp,  and  gave  us  quite  a  re-inforce- 
ment,  making  us  feel  more  thoroughly  at  home  than  at  any  time 
since  the  battle. 

From  this  time  until  our  final  march  from  Murfreesboro,  much 
attention  was  given  to  every  description  of  drill,  even  the  officers 
being  drilled  in  the  use  of  gun  and  bayonet  by  Major  Sherman. 
As  the  weather  was  now  intensely  hot,  these  drills  were  often  very 
exhausting,  and  one  man,  Charles  Irish,  of  Company  H,  was 
sun-struck. 

Great  excitement  continued  to  prevail  in  regard  to  the  cam 
paigns  on  the  .Potomac  and  the  Mississippi.  We  were  in  daily 
expectation  of  hearing  that  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson  had 
fallen,  while  in  the  East,  the  failure  of  the  campaign  under 
Hooker,  followed  by  Lee's  invasion  of  Maryland,  kept  us  in  con 
stant  anxiety.  It  was  doubtless,  too,  to  hide  the  weakening  of 
the  force  in  our  front  that  the  enemy  made  several  attempts  to  feel 
our  lines,  and  exhibited  signs  of  activity,  while  in  reality  all  his 
available  force  was  used  elsewhere.  Our  own  War  Department 
was  extremely  anxious  that  Rosecrans  should  advance  to  make 
a  diversion  in  favor  of  Hooker  and  Grant,  and  were  impatient  at 
the  long  delay.  When,  however,  the  great  difficulties  of  our 


BREAKING   UP    CAMP   AT    MURFREESBORO.  435 

advance  into  Southern  Tennessee  and  Georgia  stood  revealed,  the 
caution  of  Rosecrans  appeared  to  be  vindicated.  But  all  signs 
pointed  to  an  early  advance,  and  we  waited  to  hear  the  word 
"forward,"  which  at  last  came  on  June  24th,  and  our  long 
encampment  at  Murfreesboro  was  over. 

This  record  should  not  be  closed,  however,  without  a  word  upon 
the  religious  interest  which  prevailed  at  that  time.  For  some 
months  increased  attention  had  been  given  to  religious  services 
throughout  the  army,  and  quite  a  number  of  the  leading  officers 
sustained  Sabbath  services  at  their  headquarters.  Gen.  McCook 
had  preaching  every  Sabbath  afternoon,  which  was  attended  by 
many  Generals  and  regimental  officers  of  his  corps.  Series  of 
night  meetings  were  also  held,  and  a  large  number  of  the  men 
made  professions  of  religion.  At  the  Chaplains'  meetings,  held 
every  Monday  morning,  the  reports  from  the  different  regiments 
were  highly  encouraging.  The  last  Sabbath  before  we  marched, 
thirty  were  baptized  in  Stone  River.  On  that  day  the  Chaplain 
of  the  36th,  on  going  to  the  camp  on  Salem  pike,  where  the  reg 
iment  was,  found  that  the  place  selected  for  the  pulpit  had  been 
carefully  and  beautifully  ornamented  by  an  arch  of  evergreens, 
giving  evidence  at  once  both  of  the  interest  and  taste  of  those 
who  had  prepared  it.  After  an  interesting  service,  thinking  to 
enjoy  the  privilege  of  hearing  a  sermon,  he  went  to  Gen.  Mc- 
Cook's  headquarters,  but  the  appointed  preacher  having  failed, 
at  the  General's  request  the  Chaplain  officiated.  Before  another 
Sabbath  both  officers  and  men  were  once  more  amid  the  excite 
ments  and  confusions  of  a  campaign. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 


ON    TO    THE    TENNESSEE. 

!HE  ENEMY'S  center  was  Tullahoma,  while  its 
wings  extended  to  Shelbyville,  which  was 
strongly  fortified,  and  McMinnville.  The 
country  through  which  we  were  now  to  operate 
presented  increased  difficulties  in  the  way  of 
military  operations,  as  we  were  gradually  near- 
ing  the  mountain  region,  penetrable  only  through  certain  passes, 
which  of  course  it  was  necessary  to  seize,  but  were  comparatively 
easy  for  the  enemy  to  hold  unless  they  were  manoeuvered  out  of 
them  by  superior  strategy  and  celerity  of  movement. 

On  Wednesday,  June  24th,  the  army  left  Murfreesboro  in  three 
columns,  Thomas  on  the  right,  McCook  in  the  centre,  and  Critten- 
den  on  the  left.  Our  brigade  being  out  on  the  Salem  pike,  had  its 
preparations  made  the  day  before.  Early  in  the  morning  the 
pickets  were  drawn  in,  and  after  breakfast  the  brigade  joined  the 
rest  of  the  division  near  the  "Board  of  Trade  Bridge,"  and  we 
marched  out  on  the  Shelbyville  pike.  The  army  was  in  fine 
spirits  and  hopeful  of  success.  We  had  scarcely  started,  how 
ever,  before  it  began  to  rain,  inaugurating  what  might  truly  be 
called  "the  campaign  of  mud  and  slush."  About  six  miles  out  we 
struck  the  enemy's  lines,  and  at  the  distance  of  nine  miles  we  were 


THE    ENEMY    ENCOUNTERED.  437 

halted  for  several  hours  while  the  cavalry  skirmished,  supported 
by  two  regiments  of  our  brigade.  The  enemy  used  artillery  in 
checking  us,  and  two  or  three  shots  fell  in  front  of  our  regiment. 
Soon  a  part  of  Thomas'  corps  came  up  and  went  forward  toward 
Shelbyville,  while  our  division  was  turned  eastward  on  a  dirt  road, 
on  which  we  marched  about  six  miles  and  went  into  camp  in  a 
dense  wood.  The  headquarters'  wagon  not  coming  up,  the 
officers  were  in  poor  plight.  The  rain  poured  down  all  night  and 
next  day,  and  though  we  were  up  at  three  o'clock  A.  M.  no  orders 
came  until  three  P.  M.  We  could  hear,  however,  the  sound  of 
firing  in  the  advance,  where  Johnson's  Division  was  taking  Lib 
erty  Gap,  which  they  did  in  fine  style,  not,  however,  without  con 
siderable  loss.  The  next  day  we  were  up  at  three  o'clock, 
marched  a  little  way,  and  then  halted  until  eleven  o'clock. 
Again  it  commenced  to  rain — if  rain  it  might  be  called  which 
came  in  such  torrents  that  rubber  was  no  protection — and  the 
water  varied  from  ankle  to  waist  deep,  with  mud  in  proportion. 
The  men  pronounced  it  the  hardest  they  had  ever  seen.  We 
went  through  Liberty  Gap,  captured  the  day  before,  and  camped 
at  the  entrance  of  Hoover's  Gap,  on  the  McMinnville  pike,  hav 
ing  marched  only  about  four  miles.  Next  day,  the  27th,  we  were 
up  at  three  o'clock,  and  reached  the  Manchester  pike,  where  we 
found  our  train  and  rations.  We  made  a  halt  for  some  time,  then 
leaving  the  pike,  struck  off  to  the  right,  through  a  small  town 
called  Bedford.  Here  our  division  encountered  some  force  of 
the  enemy,  and  for  about  half  an  hour  the  36th  was  thrown  out 
to  the  left  as  a  protection.  We  soon  went  forward,  however,  and 
turning  east  again,  marched  on  until  nine  o'clock,  when,  thor 
oughly  exhausted,  we  went  into  camp  in  an  orchard,  about  two 
miles  from  the  Manchester  pike. 

On  the  28th  (Sunday),  we  struck  the  pike  about  nine  o'clock, 
and  went  into  camp  near  Manchester  about  eleven  o'clock.     The 


438  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

day  was  fine,  and  the  boys  used  it  to  bathe  and  wash  up,  for 
which  they  had  unusual  facilities,  there  being  a  dam  with  a  fifty 
feet  fall.  All  they  had  to  do  was  to  stand  under  the  descending 
water  and  their  clothes  were  cleansed  from  the  mud  with  which 
they  had  been  covered.  This  day's  rest  helped  the  troops  much, 
and  we  were  encouraged  by  learning  that  our  forces  occupied 
Shelbyville  the  day  before.  In  the  evening,  arrangements  were 
made  for  a  union  service  of  all  the  regiments  in  the  division 
camped  together.  The  Chaplain  of  the  36th  preached  the  ser 
mon  to  a  vast  audience,  gathered  in  an  immense  circle.  At  the 
close,  those  who  desired  to  give  themselves  to  the  Lord's  service 
were  invited  to  step  into  the  center,  where  they  kneeled  as 
prayer  was  made  for  them.  It  was  a  solemn  sight,  for  soldiers 
do  not  commonly  profess  such  an  interest  unless  they  deeply 
feel  it. 

On  Monday,  29th,  we  resumed  the  march  about  noon,  the  inev 
itable  rain  beginning  to  fall  just  as  we  left  camp,  and  pouring 
in  torrents  as  we  plowed  our  way  along.  We  had  to  make  sev 
eral  halts  to  rest,  for  sometimes  the  battery  and  wagon  wheels 
sank  so  deep  that  it  seemed  almost  impossible  to  move  them.  We 
went  into  camp  about  seven  o'clock  and  remained  there  all  next 
day,  as  it  was  impossible  to  move  artillery.  As  we  were  now 
within  a  few  miles  of  Tullahoma,  of  whose  great  strength  we  had 
been  hearing  for  months,  there  was  much  speculation  as  to  what 
reception  we  should  meet  there.  We  marched  again  about  two 
o'clock  July  1st,  and  had  scarcely  gone  a  mile  before  we  learned 
that  the  enemy  had  evacuated.  A  rapid  march  was  made  under 
a  burning  sun — so  hot  that  a  large  number  of  men  fell  out — and 
our  division  was  the  first  to  enter  Tallahoma.  We  found  the 
deserted  fort,  with  several  sixty -four  pound  siege  guns  spiked  and 
quite  a  quantity  of  tents  and  ammunition.  Next  day  we  started 


FORDING    ELK    RIVER.  439 

at  five  o'clock  and  began  to  receive  into  our  lines  a  number 
of  prisoners,  who  represented  themselves,  and  large  numbers  of 
their  comrades,  as  disgusted  with  the  war  and  determined  to  desert 
to  us  rather  than  leave  the  state  as  Bragg  was  preparing  to  do. 
About  ten  o'clock  we  made  a  long  halt  at  Estelle  Springs,  and 
finally  found  it  necessary  to  leave  the  direct  road  in  order  to  ford 
Elk  River,  the  enemy  having  burned  the  bridge.  This  was  a 
difficult  and  dangerous  operation,  as  the  recent  rains  had  swollen 
the  river  to  a  roaring  torrent,  and  the  enemy  were  on  the  other 
side.  We  commenced  crossing  about  six  o'clock.  It  was  a  ludi 
crous  sight  to  see  so  many  men  wading  the  stream,  with  their 
clothes  and  accoutrements  raised  in  the  air,  to  keep  them  out 
of  the  water,  which  with  some  men  came  almost  to  the  neck.  The 
current  was  so  rapid,  that  in  places  it  was  difficult  to  urge 
horses  through,  but  at  last  they  became  so  accustomed  to  it  that 
some  of  them  made  a  number  of  trips,  carrying  over  special 
friends.  We  went  into  camp  at  eight  o'clock,  having  marched 
fifteen  miles. 

Starting  next  morning  at  six  o'clock,  we  soon  came  in  sight  of 
Winchester,  and  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy  could  be  plainly 
seen.  A  line  of  battle  was  at  once  formed,  with  Company  B 
thrown  forward  as  skirmishers  to  support  the  cavalry,  who  charged 
into  town,  capturing  fifty  prisoners.  After  wading  a  stream 
waist  deep,  the  infantry  stacked  arms  in  Winchester.  At  another 
stream  beyond,  our  cavalry  received  a  check,  and  the  infantry  was 
formed  again  in  line  of  battle,  but  the  enemy  soon  retired  and  we 
advanced,  wading  another  stream  and  passing  a  house  where  a 
small  boy  had  been  accidentally  killed  in  the  skirmish.  We  con 
tinued  our  march  till  we  reached  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland 
Mountains,  and  went  into  camp  at  Cowan  Station  at  six  o'clock. 
Further  pursuit  being  fruitless,  the  Nine  Days'  Campaign  ended 


440  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

here,  and  Middle  Tennessee  was  once  more  in  possession  of  our 
forces.  The  boasting  with  which  Gen.  Bragg  made  his  advance 
a  year  before,  and  the  assurance  he  had  given  the  farmers  that 
no  second  invasion  should  ever  interrupt  their  ordinary  pursuits, 
were  seen  to  be  vain,  for  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  had  returned 
with  more  strength  and  determination  than  ever. 

At  the  conclusion  of  this  campaign,  the  War  Department  were 
incessant  in  their  demands  for  an  advance  against  the  enemy  south 
of  the  Tennessee  ;  but  they  scarcely  realized  the  difficulties  which 
such  a  movement  would  encounter  and  the  risks  which  would 
be  incurred  when  it  was  actually  made.  In  the  meantime  the 
railroad  bridges  were  rebuilt,  and  as  fast  as  supplies  could  be 
brought  up,  the  troops  were  thrown  forward  to  the  line  of  the 
Tennessee,  preparatory  to  the  fall  campaign.  During  this  time, 
the  regiment  had  the  usual  variety  of  picket,  forage  and  outpost 
duty,  interspersed  with  events  which  were  startling  at  the  time 
and  are  now  interesting  to  recall. 

The  day  after  our  arrival  at  Cowan,  the  glorious  Fourth  was 
duly  observed  by  a  national  salute,  and  a  patriotic  sermon  by 
the  Chaplain  on  the  5th,  it  being  the  Sabbath.  About  sun 
down  on  the  7th  we  were  attracted  by  tiring  of  heavy  guns  in 
the  direction  of  Tullahoma,  Gen.  Rosecrans'  headquarters.  Many 
were  the  speculations  as  to  what  it  meant,  but  next  morning  we 
were  roused  at  sunrise  by  our  own  batteries  making  a  similar 
salute  in  honor  of  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and  the  victory  of  Meade 
at  Gettysburg.  For  several  days  the  excitement  was  most 
intense,  and  we  watched  the  papers  for  every  scrap  of  informa 
tion  about  both  armies,  many  prophesying  Lee's  utter  destruc 
tion  and  the  near  end  of  the  war,  little  dreaming  that  two  weary 
years  must  yet  elapse  before  peace  would  come. 

On  the  13th  the  regiment  went  out  to  Anderson  Station,  near 
the  Alabama  line,  marching  on  the  railroad  track  through  the 


RESUMPTION    OF   RELIGIOUS    MEETINGS.  441 

Cumberland  Tunnel,  2228  feet  long.  They  returned  on  the  16th. 
Orderly  Sergt.  Hunt,  of  Company  G,  died  on  the  17th,  and 
was  buried  with  military  honors  the  next  day. 

By  this  time  the  railroad  was  repaired,  and  on  the  21st  we 
were  greeted  by  the  first  passenger  train.  During  these  two 
weeks'  stay  at  Cowan  we  suffered  constantly  from  the  heavy  rains 
which  fell,  and  on  the  other  hand  were  wonderfully  favored  with 
an  abundance  of  blackberries,  which  were  devoured  all  the  time 
and  in  every  possible  shape,  off  the  bush,  out  of  the  pail,  in 
sauce,  shortcake,  pies,  &c.,  a  diet  as  healthy  as  it  was  acceptable. 

Our  religious  meetings,  too,  were  resumed,  and  on  Sunday, 
July  19th,  we  had  two  excellent  services  under  trees  by  the  banks 
of  the  creek.  Col.  Miller  had  promised  that  when  the  prospect 
of  our  remaining  in  camp  would  justify  it,  we  should  build  a 
chapel  for  public  worship.  After  making  the  tents  comforta 
ble,  volunteers  and  a  detail  of  men  were  set  to  work,  the  plan 
being  furnished  by  the  Chaplain,  and  the  erection  superintended 
by  Capt.  Wakeman,  of  Company  H,  and  Lieut.  Smith,  of  Com 
pany  E.  As  the  chapel  was  altogether  the  most  attractive  of 
any  that  was  seen  in  our  army,  and  was  highly  prized  by  the 
regiment,  a  further  description  of  it  may  be  desirable.  Against 
a  picket  fence  as  a  base  was  described  a  semi-circle,  thirty-six 
feet  across  the  widest  part  and  sixty  feet  long.  At  intervals  on 
this  circle  and  through  it  diagonally  were  erected  strong  posts, 
on  which  poles  were  placed  for  plates  and  rafters,  the  whole 
bound  together  strongly.  The  roof  was  covered  with  branches 
of  trees,  while  evergreens,  about  five  feet  high,  were  planted  all 
along  the  outer  circle  between  the  posts.  Similar  evergreens, 
points  downward,  were  hung  from  the  plates  above,  making 
a  complete  evergreen  siding  to  the  whole  building,  which,  while 
keeping  out  the  sun,  admitted  the  air  through  the  waving  branches. 

29 


442  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Next  to  the  fence  the  lower  tier  of  evergreens  was  omitted  for 
purposes  of  light,  and  here  was  placed  the  pulpit,  from  each  side 
of  which  an  aisle  was  drawn  in  line  with  the  posts  supporting  the 
roof  and  leading  to  two  Gothic  doors  built  in  the  sides.  The 
spaces  between  the  aisles  and  on  each  side  of  them  were  filled 
with  seats,  arranged  in  the  same  shape  as  the  building,  so  that 
every  hearer  faced  the  pulpit,  and  the  congregation  was  brought 
into  a  compact  form.  As  the  work  proceeded,  much  enthusiasm 
was  manifested,  and  those  who  had  special  tastes  devoted  them 
selves  to  special  parts.  The  pulpit  was  trimmed  with  sunk  panels 
of  arbor  vitae,  by  J.  C.  Denison,  Kelly  and  Burch ;  some  trimmed 
the  Gothic  doors,  while  others  made  and  covered  with  evergreens 
the  figures  36,  so  large  that  when  placed  on  the  front  plate  of 
the  chapel  they  could  be  seen  all  over  the  camp.  Right  over  the 
centre  of  the  chapel  was  built  an  evergreen  cupola,  arranged  so 
as  to  hold  the  regimental  flag.  When  finished  it  surpassed  the 
expectation  of  those  who  planned  it,  and  was  the  admiration  of 
the  whole  camp. 

On  Sunday,  the  26th  of  July,  the  morning  opened  most 
beautifully,  the  flag  was  hoisted,  and  at  ten  o'clock  the  men 
assembled,  Capt.  Wakeman  and  Lieut.  Smith  acting  as  ushers. 
The  seats  which  would  accommodate  about  five  hundred  were 
comfortably  filed.  Gen.  Lytle  and  Col.  Miller  were  seated  in 
the  pulpit  with  the  Chaplain.  The  sermon  was  from  Ps.  LXXXIV-!  : 
"  How  amiable  are  Thy  tabernacles,  0  God!"  and  was  a  discus 
sion  of  the  influence  of  the  Christian  sanctuary  upon  individuals 
and  nations.  A  collection  was  taken  to  purchase  a  new  supply 
of  reading  for  the  regiment.  In  the  afternoon  we  organized  a 
Sabbath  School  and  Bible  Classes,  and  in  the  evening  held  a 
prayer  and  conference  meeting,  and  when  the  day  closed  all  felt 
abundantly  repaid  for  the  toil.  The  chapel  was  so  airy  and  cool 


MAKING   PICTURES    OF   OUR    CHAPEL.  443 

that  it  became  a  favorite  resort,  many  coming  there  to  read   or 
write  letters. 

The  next  day,  finding  that  a  Lieutenant  of  topographical  engin 
eers  on  Bragg's  staff,  had  come  in  and  given  himself  up,  who  was 
an  excellent  draughtsman,  having  in  his  possession  some  very 
fine  drawings  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  other  scenery  near  Chat 
tanooga,  we  proposed  to  him  to  make  two  drawings  of  our  chapel 
for  preservation.  He  was  in  need  of  money,  and  gladly  accepted 
the  offer  at  five  dollars  each.  The  pictures  were  excellent,  and 
taken  by  the  Chaplain  to  Chicago  and  lithographed  by  Shober, 
a  thousand  copies  of  each  being  eagerly  purchased  by  the  regi 
ment  and  are  now  carefully  preserved. 

Monday,  the  27th,  Maj.McIntyre  arrived  with  four  months' 
pay,  and  permission  being  given  the  Chaplain  to  proceed  to  Illi 
nois  with  such  funds  as  might  be  entrusted  to  him,  the  day,  and 
far  into  the  night,  were  spent  in  writing  letters  and  preparing 
packages  of  money  for  the  dear  ones  at  home.  Next  day  he 
started,  carrying  over  $15,000,  and  taking  also  the  regimental 
flag,  to  have  inscribed  on  it  the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  it 
had  been  carried. 

On  Thursday,  July  30th,  we  broke  camp  for  the  march  over 
the  mountains,  which  proved  rough  and  weary  indeed.  Many 
wagons  broke  down  and  again  the  rain  did  not  forget  to  fall. 
Halted  for  the  night  three  miles  from  Anderson  Station  and  next 
day  arrived  at  Stevenson.  On  Saturday  we  went  forward  to 
Bridgeport,  the  advance  of  Sheridan's  Division.  Here  an  island 
divides  the  Tennessee  River  into  two  channels,  each  of  which 
was  spanned  by  a  fine  railroad  bridge.  That  on  the  west  had 
already  been  partially  destroyed,  and  the  enemy's  pickets  occu 
pied  the  island.  Our  men  frequently  held  conversations  with 
them  and  the  pickets  exchanged  papers.  Trains  ran  through  to 


444  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Bridgeport,  bringing  up  the  baggage,  and  a  permanent  camp  was 
once  more  made,  where  we  remained  until  the  general  advance. 
The  weather  at  this  time  was  intensely  hot,  and  there  being  little 
or  no  shade,  united  with  the  miasma  from  the  river,  caused  quite 
an  increase  of  sickness  in  the  regiment.  The  usual  routine  of 
picket  and  foraging  duty  was  varied  with  bathing,  fishing,  &c., 
and  now  and  then  a  flag-of-truce  boat  put  out  from  one  or  other 
army,  transferring  persons  and  carrying  messages. 

The  event  of  this  camp,  however,  was  the  receiving,  after  so 
long  a  delay,  of  our  regimental  library.  It  arrived  August  9th. 
The  work  of  cataloguing  and  dividing  it  into  sections  having 
been  done  before  it  was  ordered,  a  force  immediately  proceeded 
to  cover  the  books  with  stout  paper,  put  on  the  numbers  and 
labels,  and  next  day  each  company  was  in  possession  of  its  sec 
tion.  The  eagerness  with  which  the  books  were  taken  out  and 
read  was  a  sight  good  for  the  eyes.  It  must  be  remembered,  too, 
that  they  were  not  flashy  books,  but  the  choicest  literature  in  the 
English  language,  comprising  the  works  of  such  authors  as  Wash 
ington  Irving,  Macauley,  Motley,  Scott,  Dickens,  Hughes,  &c. 
The  enthusiasm  pervaded  all  classes.  Strong  boxes  were  fitted 
up  and  every  provision  made  for  the  safe  preservation  of  the 
books.  The  library  was  used  whenever  we  were  long  enough  in 
camp  to  justify  its  being  brought  forward,  and  at  the  muster  out 
was  divided  among  the  survivors  of  the  regiment.  On  the  17th 
and  18th  of  August,  meetings  were  held  to  organize  a  literary 
society,  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  and  directing  an  intelli 
gent  use  of  the  library.  Speeches  were  made  by  various  officers, 
patriotic  songs  were  sung,  and  the  following  officers  of  the  society 
were  elected:  Pres't — Chaplain  Wm.  M.  Haigh  ;  Vice-Prest — 
Maj.  Geo.  D.  Sherman;  Secy— Thos.  P.  Hill:  Board—  Capt. 
Geo.  G.  Biddulph,  Sergt.  J.  J.  Wilson,  Nath.  McCutchen,  Com 
pany  B,  and  George  Wood,  Company  D. 


PERPETUAL  SUPPPY  OF  READING  MATTER.       445 

About  this  time  another  arrangement  was  made,  which  proved 
of  the  highest  benefit  in  providing  reading  matter.  Hitherto 
our  papers  had  been  chiefly  religious,  but  our  funds  were  now 
sufficient  to  provide  a  larger  variety  on  which  we  might  depend 
during  the  march.  Accordingly  we  procured  twenty  copies  weekly 
of 'the  N.  Y.  Evening  Post',  twelve  copies  each  of  Atlantic, 
Harper  s,  Continental  and  Eclectic  Magazines,  and  also  the  Army 
and  Navy  Journal,  which,  with  the  large  number  of  religious 
papers,  gave  us  all  the  benefits  of  a  perpetual  reading  room. 
This  plan  was  found  so  beneficial  that  it  was  kept  up  to  the  last. 

On  the  night  of  the  14th,  the  enemy  fired  the  remainder  of 
the  bridge.  A  few  shells  were  thrown  during  the  night  and  the 
next  day,  but  with  no  particular  effect. 

All  signs  began  to  indicate  a  movement.  Companies  B  and 
C,  supported  by  D  and  E,  made  a  reconnoissance,  followed  in 
a  few  days  by  Companies  A,  F,  H  and  G.  At  the  close  of  the 
month,  trains  came  in  loaded  with  pontoons  arid  materials  for 
building,  and  September  2nd,  the  bridge  being  completed,  the 
word  "Forward  "  was  sounded  and  we  were  once  more  on  the 
march. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

BATTLE    OF    CHICKAMAUGA. 

HATTANOOGA,  the  objective  point  of  our  next 
campaign,  was  the  ''gateway  of  Georgia,"  and,  in  a 
sense,  of  the  whole  South,  for  from  it  opened  val 
leys,  through  which  operations  could  be  carried  on 
and  supplies  furnished  in  almost  every  direction.  But 
the  very  features  of  the  country  which  gave  such 
advantages  to  forces  holding  Chattanooga,  presented  the  most 
formidable  obstacles  to  any  force  operating  against  it,  especially 
from  the  north,  Protected  as  it  was  by  a  rapid  stream  over  two 
thousand  feet  wide,  on  the  banks  of  which  were  cannon  ready  to 
sweep  away  any  army  that  should  attempt  to  cross,  it  was  still 
further  inaccessible  by  the  mountainous  region  to  the  north,  over 
which  it  was  exceedingly  difficult  to  operate  an  army,  and  even 
more  difficult  to  supply  it  so  far  away  from  any  practicable  base. 
Its  lines  of  communication  south  were  protected  by  mountainous 
ridges  running  south  and  south-west,  through  which  the  openings 
were  but  few  and  easily  defended,  but  across  which  it  was  a  stu 
pendous  task  to  throw  an  attacking  force.  Indeed,  much  as  the 
War  Department  had  complained  of  Rosecrans'  delay,  the  event 
showed  that  he  had  not  overrated  the  difficulties  of  the  task, 
especially  when  his  deficiency  of  mounted  men  was  considered. 


A   FLANK    MOVEMENT.  447 

A  flank  movement  being  the  only  one  which  promised  success, 
and  the  country  north  and  north-east  being  unfit  for  army  oper 
ations,  it  remained  to  cross  the  mountain  ridges  on  the  west  and 
south-west  and  strike  the  enemy's  communications  south,  com 
pelling  either  the  evacuation  of  Chattanooga  or  fighting  a  battle 
on  equal  terms. 

The  success  of  such  a  movement,  involving  the  passage  both 
of  the  river  and  several  high  mountains,  depended  upon  keeping 
the  enemy  in  ignorance  of  our  real  plan,  by  diverting  its  atten 
tion  and  resources  to  a  different  quarter.  This  was  most  effect 
ually  done  by  a  brilliant  feint  by  Crittenden,  whose  corps  crossed 
the  Cumberland  Mountains  into  the  Sequatchie  valley  in  four 
days,  though  they  had  to  drag  their  cannon  over  precipices  by 
hand.  Thence  he  despatched  four  brigades,  two  of  cavalry,  Col. 
Minty's  and  Wilder's  mounted  infantry,  and  Gen.  Hazen's  and 
Wagner's  brigades  of  infantry,  to  proceed  to  points  on  the  river 
opposite  Chattanooga,  above  and  below  the  town,  and  make  a 
feigned  attack.  This  was  done.  Some  of  Wilder's  troops  above 
the  town  let  ends  of  logs,  rails  and  bits  of  timber  float  down  past 
Bragg's  front,  as  if  they  were  preparing  a  bridge ;  other  troops 
slapped  boards  together  to  make  a  lumbering  noise,  while  Wilder 
unlimbered  his  artillery  and  shelled  the  town.  In  the  meantime 
the  other  corps  of  the  army  had  been  concentrating  at  Steven 
son,  Bridgeport,  Battle  Creek  and  Caperton's  Ferry,  the  pon 
toons  and  other  preparations  being  kept  out  of  sight,  and  when 
the  time  for  crossing  had  come,  Bragg's  attention  had  been  so 
completely  absorbed  by  the  movement  on  his  front  that  the  whole 
army  was  transferred  across  the  river  without  opposition. 

The  passage  of  Sand  Mountain  involved  the  necessity  of 
making  and  repairing  roads,  and  when  this  had  been  done  as  far 
as  practicable  without  too  mnch  delay,  such  was  the  steepness  of 


448  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS.  ' 

the  ascents  on  the  different  routes  of  advance  that  teams  were 
often  doubled  to  move  the  artillery  and  wagons.  By  September 
6th  these  movements  in  the  main  had  been  completed,  and  the 
army,  except  what  was  left  to  threaten  Chattanooga  on  the  north, 
lay  along  the  western  base  of  Lookout  Mountain  from  Wau- 
hatchie,  a  point  six  or  seven  miles  from  Chattanooga,  to  Valley 
Head,  thirty-five  miles  distant. 

It  was  on  Sept.  2nd  that  Sheridan's  Division,  to  which  the 
36th  belonged,  received  orders  to  cross  the  river.  As  there  were 
not  pontoons  enough  to  reach  across  both  channels,  the  engineers 
had  finished  the  bridge  by  setting  down  trestles  and  planking 
them  over — a  device  which  came  near  costing  us  dearly.  It  was 
an  exciting  time.  Thoughtful  men  realized  the  peril  of  putting 
such  a  river  in  their  rear  with  such  mountains  in  front,  while  the 
measured  tread  of  infantry,  the  rattle,  shout  and  crack  of  the 
whip,  as  the  heavily  laden  wagons  bounced  from  the  banks  on  to 
the  narrow  pontoon  causeways  ;  the  heavier  jar  and  crash,  as  the 
huge  artillery  vehicles  rumbled  over  the  planks,  must  be  heard 
to  be  appreciated.  The  troops  passed  over  safely  and  in  fine 
spirits,  and  marching  forward  about  four  miles,  went  into  camp 
in  Hog  Jaw  Valley,  where  Gen.  Negley,  of  the  14th  Corps,  had 
preceded  us  and  was  preparing  to  ascend  the  mountain.  We 
soon  found  that  the  officers  were  destined  to  an  unpleasant  night, 
for  word  was  brought  that  in  attempting  to  cross  the  bridge 
some  of  the  trestles  had  broken,  precipitating  several  wagons  into 
the  river.  This  meant  that  we  must  shift  for  ourselves  for  shel 
ter  and  food.  Good  use  was  made  of  the  abundance  of  soft 
corn  growing  near,  which,  with  salt,  was  quite  a  pleasant  change 
from  army  diet.  Next  morning  troops  were  under  arms  early, 
but  we  did  not  march.  By  and  by  our  wagons  arrived,  the 
bridge  having  been  repaired  during  the  night,  though  it  gave 


ASCENDING  THE   MOUNTAIN.  449 

way  a  second  time.  It  seemed  little  less  than  miraculous  that, 
in  accidents  so  dangerous,  no  men  were  lost,  and  only  one  mule. 
Two  men,  however,  were  much  injured  in  camp  by  the  fall  of  a 
tree. 

It  was  an  interesting  sight  to  watch  Negley's  Division  ascend 
ing  the  mountain  road,  which  in  many  places  was  as  steep  as  an 
ordinary  house  roof.  The  teams  of  six  horses  or  mules  had  to 
be  doubled  to  accomplish  the  task.  Some  of  the  men  were  so 
impatient  of  the  delay  that  they  went  to  the  top  to  reconnoitre, 
and  brought  exciting  news  of  the  scenery  and  prospect.  By 
and  by  they  had  as  much  of  mountain  climbing  as  they  desired. 

It  was  not  till  Friday,  about  three  o'clock,  that  the  way  was 
cleared  and  we  began  to  ascend.  It  took  our  battery  four  and 
a  half  hours  to  go  up.  On  reaching  the  top  we  continued  our 
march  for  about  five  miles  and  went  into  camp  at  dark,  much 
exhausted  with  the  heat  and  dust.  It  took  most  of  the  night 
for  the  train  to  come  up  the  hill,  and,  with  all  the  care  that  could 
be  exercised,  several  wagons  fell  over  the  precipice  on  the  road 
side,  which  varied  from  ten  to  one  hundred  feet  deep.  The  next 
day  we  crossed  the  mountain,  and  descending  a  hill  even  worse 
than  the  one  we  ascended  the  day  before,  went  into  camp  near 
Trenton  about  three  o'clock.  Our  train  came  in  early,  so  that 
we  made  ourselves  quite  comfortable,  and  were  especially  grati 
fied  to  find  a  creek  of  most  beautiful  water,  supplied  from  a  spring 
which  gushed  out  of  the  rock  in  a  stream  as  broad  as  a  man's 
body.  Such  water  in  so  great  abundance  makes  a  soldier  happy. 
On  Sunday  we  resumed  our  march  down  the  valley,  passing 
numerous  houses  with  rich  and  beautiful  farms.  We  found  here, 
too,  more  men  at  home  than  usual,  and  quite  a  number  who  had 
been  paroled  at  Vicksburg.  The  heat  and  dust  that  day  were 
almost  intolerable.  One  man  sank  down  by  the  roadside  and 


450  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

another  when  we  reached  camp.  On  Monday  we  went  eight 
miles  further  and  then  camped,  where  we  remained  until  Thurs 
day.  It  was  during  these  three  days  that  the  object  of  this  hard 
marching  was  accomplished — the  evacuation  of  Chattanooga. 

As  soon  as  the  main  army  had  been  transferred  to  Lookout 
Valley,  Crittenden  on  the  left  was  instructed  to  advance  over  the 
mountain,  Thomas  to  penetrate  and  hold  the  gaps  in  the  centre 
(Cooper's  and  Stevens'  Gaps),  while  McCook  was  to  push  for 
Broomtown  Valley,  his  outpost  being  at  Alpine.  These  move 
ments  revealed  the  real  plan  of  Rosecrans,  and  Bragg  at  once 
commenced  to  evacuate,  as  his  line  of  supplies  and  reinforce 
ments  were  falling  into  our  hands.  Besides,  the  lull  of  opera 
tions,  both  east  and  west,  was  allowing  reinforcements  to  be  sent 
him  from  Virginia  and  beyond  the  Mississippi  ;  Buckner  was  on 
the  way  from  East  Tennessee  with  fifteen  thousand  men,  and 
time  was  needed  to  concentrate  these  forces.  His  evacuation 
was  evident  to  our  troops  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  on  Tues 
day  evening,  September  8th,  and  on  the  9th  our  men  entered. 
This  success,  as  the  result  of  strategy  alone,  gave  great  joy  to 
the  army  and  gratification  to  the  whole  country,  and  all  thought 
now  not  of  battle,  so  much  as  pursuit  and  capture  of  the  retreat 
ing  forces.  Orders  were  therefore  given  for  Crittenden  to  occupy 
Chattanooga,  and  push  towards  Ringgold  and  Dalton ;  Thomas 
to  penetrate  the  gaps  on  his  front  and  reach  Lafayette ;  McCook 
to  enter  Broomtown  Valley  and  communicate  with  Thomas,  while 
cavalry  was  sent  out  towards  Rome.  Accordingly  we  marched 
from  our  camp  in  Nill's  Valley,  September  10th,  and  moved  fast 
up  to  Valley  Head,  where  a  spur  of  Lookout  juts  across  the 
valley.  Here  we  joined  Davis'  and  Johnson's  Division,  which 
had  come  over  the  mountain  from  Stevenson,  and  our  corps  was 
now  together  again  for  the  first  time  since  leaving  Murfreesboro. 


ON   LOOKOUT   MOUNTAIN.  451 

After  resting  two  hours,  we  began  to  scale  the  mountain  through 
Winston's  Gap,  which  was  very  steep,  and  both  men  and  horses 
were  exhausted  with  our  previous  march.  After  reaching  the 
top  (Lookout  is  2,200  feet  above  tide),  we  went  on  about  two 
miles  and  camped  beyond  Davis  about  four  o'clock. 

These  mountain  tops  were  a  great  curiosity,  this  being,  as  a 
writer  has  said  :  "  Some  dozen  miles  wide,  so  level  and  gently 
rolling  that  one  laughs  at  his  preconceived  ideas  of  the  tops  of 
mountains,  if  he  does  not  forget  that  he  has  left  a  valley.  No 
peaks  from  which  to  unfurl  a  flag,  if  any  one  should  be  geo 
graphically  poetic  ;  no  sugar  loaves  where  one  can  clamber,  and 
feel  like  a  giddy  explorer  standing  on  a  heavenward  land's  end. 
There  are  groves,  fields,  and  smooth  flowing  streams,  where  the 
imagination  pictures  verdant  crags  and  cascades." 

We  camped  that  night  in  a  most  picturesque  spot,  named  very 
appropriately  u  Falling  Waters,"  where  the  water  poured  over 
the  rocks,  two  hundred  feet  high,  into  a  deep  basin.  Next  day 
we  went  forward  until  we  reached  the  opposite  brow  of  the  moun 
tain,  where  we  were  halted  for  a  while  by  some  obstruction  in 
front,  but  had  a  most  glorious  view  of  the  country,  its  succession 
of  hills  and  valleys  extending  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  We 
then  descended  into  the  Broomtown  valley,  and  went  into  camp 
about  two  miles  beyond.  Here  we  remained  until  Sunday,  the 
13,  the  reports  from  the  cavalry  making  any  further  advance 
unwise.  Indeed,  the  real  position  of  affairs  was  only  now  begin 
ning  to  be  understood.  If  Rosecrans  had  succeeded  in  mislead 
ing  Bragg  enough  to  compel  him  to  evacuate  Chattanooga,  he  was 
himself  mislead  in  his  belief  that  Bragg  was  in  full  retreat.  He 
had,  in  fact,  been  all  the  time  concentrating  his  army  near 
Lafayette,  with  the  purpose  of  striking  ours  in  detail,  as  we  sought 
to  penetrate  the  gaps  at  various  points  stretching  from  Chatta- 


452  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

nooga  to  Alpine.  At  this  time  our  situation  was  all  that  he 
could  desire.  Negley  found  as  he  advanced  to  the  gaps  in  his 
front  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  a  heavy  force  that  was  able 
to  attack  him  through  gaps  on  either  flank,  and  Bragg  made 
.immediate  dispositions  for  doing  so,  but  by  some  unaccountable 
delay  was  hindered  long  enough  to  give  time  to  Negley  to  with 
draw  his  division  to  a  safe  point.  Crittenden's  reconnoisance 
toward  Ringgold  revealed  the  fact  that  Bragg  was  not  retreating, 
and  compelled  Crittenden  to  draw  his  corps  together.  As  soon 
as  the  movement  against  Negley  failed,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
overwhelm  Crittenden,  which  also  came  to  naught  by  the 
latter  sending  VanCleve  with  one  brigade  on  a  reconnoisance 
toward  Lafayette,  who,  meeting  the  enemy  with  cavalry  and 
artillery  not  far  from  Gordon's  Mills,  drove  him  three  miles,  dis 
concerting  Gen.  Polk,  who,  instead  of  attacking  as  ordered, 
halted  in  defense,  and  called  for  reinforcements.  This  failure 
saved  our  left.  Me  Cook  also  found  from  the  reports  of  his 
cavalry  that  the  enemy  were  not  retreating  but  concentrating, 
and  as  we  were  so  far  away  and  isolated  from  the  centre  and 
open  to  attack  from  Lafayette,  our  position,  too,  became  quite 
critical.  Indeed,  the  whole  army  was  in  danger,  for  Bragg  was 
nearer  to  either  of  our  wings  than  it  was  to  the  other.  Crit 
tenden  could  not  hold  the  road  to  Chattanooga  until  Thomas 
could  close  up  on  him,  and  Thomas  could  not  do  this  until 
McCook  joined  him.  For  four  days,  while  we  were  crossing  the 
mountain  to  join  Thomas,  the  fate  of  the  army  hung  in  the  bal 
ance,  and  as  we  now  look  back  and  see  the  advantage  Bragg  had, 
we  are  amazed  that  with  opportunities  so  vast  his  achievements 
were  so  meagre. 

It  was  at  midnight  on  Saturday,  the  12th,  that  Gen.  McCook 
received  the  first  intimation  that  he  was  to  join  Gen.  Thomas. 


MARCHING   TO    MEET    THE    ENEMY.  453 

At  first,  he  prepared  to  send  his  trains  under  the  protection  of 
three  brigades,  Gen.  Lytle  commanding,  back  on  the  route  of 
advance,  and  with  the  remainder  of  his  corps  to  move  along  the 
eastern  base  of  Lookout  to  Dougherty's  Gap.  But  this  was  soon 
abandoned  and  another  route  was  sought  on  the  mountain  to 
Stevens'  Gap.  As  the  citizens  concurred  in  denying  the  exist 
ence  of  such  a  road,  and  having  no  guide,  he  determined  to  move 
by  way  of  Valley  Head.  This  necessitated  a  march  of  forty-six 
miles  instead  of  seventeen,  and  the  loss  of  four  days  and  a-half, 
instead  of  one  and  a-half.  It  was  on  Sunday  we  received  orders 
to  march  on  this  return,  but  our  brigade  being  rear  guard  to  the 
trains,  we  lay  round  all  day  until  five  o'clock,  when  we  marched 
back  two  miles  to  the  foot  of  the  gap  by  which  we  had  descended 
from  Lookout  two  days  before.  Here  we  lay  exposed  to  the  cold, 
which  was  very  severe,  while  the  trains  continued  to  ascend  the 
hill ;  huge  fires  being  kept  up  all  night  to  facilitate  the  move 
ment.  At  daylight,  the  teams  were  all  up,  and  we  followed, 
accompanied  by  about  fifty  prisoners  who  had  been  captured,  and 
who  all  united  in  declaring  that  their  generals  were  preparing 
for  battle. 

We  marched  back  to  Falling  Waters,  where  we  remained  until 
Wednesday,  Sept.  16th,  and  returned  to  Dougherty's  Gap. 
Here  we  had  a  magnificent  view  of  the  Alpine  Valley.  The 
cavalry  marched  past  us  most  of  the  night.  Next  day  we  started 
early,  moving  north  to  Stevens'  Gap  and  keeping  in  sight  of  the 
valley  all  day.  We  then  descended  a  hill  two  miles  long,  the 
worst  we  had  yet  found,  and  entered  McLemores'  Cove,  where 
Negley  had  first  found  the  enemy  and  where  we  were  for  the  first 
time  in  supporting  distance  of  Thomas,  who  proceeded  at  once 
to  close  up  on  Crittenden.  As  soon  as  we  entered  the  cove,  the 
proximity  of  the  enemy  was  evident,  and  the  troops  were  thrown 


454  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

into  line  of  battle.  We  lay  down,  expecting  to  be  called  at  any 
moment,  but  notwithstanding  this  and  a  threatened  rain,  we  slept 
soundly,  for  our  day's  march  had  been  one  of  the  hardest  we 
had  known,  over  twenty  miles  of  a  mountain  road,  for  the  greater 
part  without  water  and  almost  insufferable  from  dust.  Next 
morning  we  were  up  at  three  o'clock,  and  at  daylight  began  our 
march  up  the  valley,  toward  a  gap  held  by  the  enemy.  After 
going  about  four  miles,  we  halted  and  formed  line  of  battle,  and 
in  about  two  hours  moved  a  mile  or  so  further,  then  went  into 
camp  with  the  expectation  of  staying  all  night.  Just  before 
dark  the  "general  "  sounded,  and  immediately  we  prepared  to 
march,  but  hindered,  probably  by  the  teams,  we  waited  and 
waited,  and  at  half  past  eleven  we  had  moved  but  a  few  rods, 
while  the  men  built  huge  fires  of  rails  for  warmth  and  light. 
After  we  got  started  our  progress  was  extremely  tedious,  many 
of  the  men  lying  down  by  the  roadside  to  sleep,  and  officers  in 
danger  of  falling  from  their  horses  through  sleep  ;  but  on  we 
went,  lighted  by  burning  fences,  until  we  bivouacked  at  Pond 
Spring  about  three  o'clock,  and  in  a  few  minutes  were  fast  asleep. 

We  were  up  next  morning,  19th,  about  six  o'clock,  and  imme 
diately  began  to  speculate  as  to  what  all  this  marching  and 
counter-marching,  this  turning  night  into  day,  could  mean — for 
though  it  is  all  plain  now,  then  it  was  mere  conjecture.  We 
could  see,  however,  that  our  army  was  concentrating,  and  that 
we  were  in  constant  danger  of  being  attacked  by  the  enemy. 
As  the  morning  advanced,  a  muttering  sound  as  of  distant  thun 
der  was  heard  to  the  north-east,  and  every  ear  was  turned,  listen 
ing  for  it  again.  Before  long  it  was  repeated  again  and  again, 
and  we  took  in  the  situation  at  once,  for 

"  Nearer,  clearer,  deadlier  than  before, 
It  is,  it  is  the  cannon's  opening  roar." 


OPENING    OF    A    GENERAL    BATTLE.  455 

Bragg,  after  failing  to  strike  our  three  corps  in  detail,  had 
been  waiting  for  reinforcements  from  Virginia.  On  the  17th 
our  cavalry  discovered  his  columns  from  Dalton  to  our  left,  with 
the  purpose  of  crossing  the  Chickamauga  and  occupying  the 
roads  to  Chattanooga,  north  of  Gordon's  Mills,  which  Critten- 
den  was  holding.  Had  this  movement  been  executed  with  vigor 
on  the  18th,  as  Bragg  ordered,  it  might  have  been  successful ; 
but  that  unaccountable  delay  by  his  subordinate  officers,  which 
had  already  lost  him  such  golden  opportunities,  ruined  this  also, 
by  giving  Rosecrans  time  to  bring  up  Thomas  and  McCook. 

While  this  movement  to  our  left  was  taking  place  on  the  18th, 
the  enemy  made  some  demonstrations  against  Gordon's  Mills  and 
Craw-Fish  Springs  to  cover  its  real  plan,  but  the  revelations  of 
our  cavalry  left  no  doubt  of  its  ultimate  design.  Accordingly 
our  forces  were  brought  up  on  the  18th  as  rapidly  as  could  be 
done  with  safety,  and  during  the  night  while  we  marched  up  to 
Pond  Spring,  Thomas  was  marching  past  Gordon's  Mills,  taking 
up  a  position  which  protected  the  main  roads  leading  from  the 
crossings  of  the  Chickamauga  to  Chattanooga.  Neither  force 
knew  of  the  proximity  of  the  other,  but  Gen.  Thomas,  being 
informed  that  a  Rebel  brigade  was  isolated  on  this  side  of  the 
creek  in  consequence  of  the  burning  of  the  bridge  by  our  cav 
alry,  sent  forward  two  brigades  to  reconnoitre,  who  encountered 
a  heavy  body  of  the  enemy  that  had  crossed  during  the  night. 
This  merely  tentative  movement  proved  the  opening  of  a  general 
battle,  whose  first  shots  had  attracted  our  attention.  Thomas 
was  reinforced  by  a  division  from  Crittenden,  and  by  Johnson's 
division  of  McCook 's  Corps,  which  was  arriving  on  the  ground 
and  were  able  to  check  the  enemy  inflicting  heavy  loss  on  him, 
which  so  occupied  his  attention  that  he  did  not  discover  for  some 
time  a  large  opening  between  Thomas  and  Crittenden  which  our 


456  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Generals  strained  every  nerve  to  fill.  A  portion  of  their  force  at 
Gordon's  Mills  was  thrown  to  the  left,  and  soon  Gen.  Davis 
arrived  from  McCook.  These  dispositions  were  scarcely  made 
before  a  heavy  body  of  the  enemy,  concentrated  for  the  purpose 
of  filling  this  gap  in  the  line  and  cutting  our  army  in  two,  broke 
upon  them.  They  resisted  manfully,  drove  back  the  enemy,  but 
soon,  little  by  little,  gave  ground,  specially  on  the  flanks  of  the 
line,  until  Davis'  right  and  left  rested  upon  the  Lafayette  road. 
In  this  position,  supported  by  Wilder's  mounted  infantry,  he  fought 
successfully  the  superior  forces  of  the  enemy  through  several 
hours.  It  was  while  resisting  this  attack  that  our  division  came 
up  to  help. 

In  the  morning  the  wagons  were  sent  to  Chattanooga,  and 
Sheridan's  Division  made  a  rapid  march  to  Craw-Fish  Spring. 
Here  every  man  filled  his  canteen,  and  extra  boxes  of  cartridges 
were  distributed  to  the  companies,  men  being  detailed  to  carry 
them  on  their  shoulders.  Then  on  we  went  again  at  a  rapid 
pace,  until  the  sight  of  Negley's  flag  showed  that  we  had  struck 
the  right  of  the  army  holding  one  of  the  gaps  and  thus  protect 
ing  our  rear.  Soon  we  arrived  at  McCook's  headquarters,  where 
all  was  excitement.  Says  an  eye  witness,  "An  aid  with  pallid 
face  rides  up  to  McCook  and  exclaims,  hastily,  'For  God's  sake, 
General,  send  somebody  down  to  hold  Gordon's  Mills  !  Bushrod 
Johnson  has  crossed  with  a  division,  and  is  hugging  the  bank  of 
the  stream.  He  will  be  in  our  rear  in  fifteen  minutes.'  'Where 
is  Wood  ?'  asked  the  General.  '  Gone  into  the  fight  long  ago 
and  left  the  position  vacant.'  "  McCook  orders  Sheridan  to  take 
his  division  down  to  the  Mills  and  hold  them.  The  first  brigade 
files  by,  Gen.  Lytle  at  its  head,  calmly  smoking  a  cigar,  receiv 
ing  his  orders  with  that  stately  courtesy  at  once  so  becoming  and 
winning.  There  was  not  the  slightest  change  in  the  manner  or 


VALUE  OF  FULL  CARTRIDGE  BOXES.          457 

intonation  of  the  chivalric  Lytle.  I  felt,  as  his  horse  bore  him 
quickly  away,  that  I  was  gazing  upon  the  incarnation  of  manly 
courage  and  nobility.  His  brigade  swept  by  with  a  graceful 
swing.  One  of  his  regiments,  the  36th  Illinois,  whose  banners 
were  blazoned  with  "Pea  Ridge,"  "Perryville,"  and  u  Stone 
River,"  had  a  number  of  men  carrying  heavy  boxes  of  cartridges 
on  their  shoulders.  Noble  fellows!  Experience  has  not  been 
lost  upon  them.  They,  perhaps,  had  learned  the  value  of  full 
cartridge  boxes.  The  next  moment  an  aid  from  Rosecrans 
dashes  up.  "Where  are  your  reserves,  General,"  he  asks.  "  I 
have  none,  save  Negley  holding  Owen's  Gap,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Tell  him  to  report  immediately  to  Thomas,  who  is  hard  pressed 
again,"  rejoins  the  aid  and  gallops  off.  Negley  is  quickly  sum 
moned  and  streams  by  towards  the  left,  and  so  Sheridan's  Divi 
sion  is  the  extreme  right  of  the  army.  But  even  a  single  division 
could  not  be  spared  for  so  important  a  point,  for  the  pressure 
upon  Davis  and  Wood  became  so  heavy  that  Bradley's  and  Lai- 
bold's  Brigades  were  ordered  to  their  assistance,  leaving  our 
brigade  alone  to  guard  the  mills.  The  same  eye  witness  says  : 
"Reaching  an  open  field,  I  find  two  of  Sheridan's  Brigades 
moving  by  the  left  flank  from  the  position  just  assigned  them. 
4  Where  are  they  going  ?'  I  ask.  i  They  go  to  reinforce  the  right/ 
I  am  informed.  Gen.  Lytle's  brigade  alone  was  left  at  Gordon's 
Mills,  and  there  were  no  more  to  come  up.  Glancing  at  the  sun 
my  very  heart  sank  to  see  it  still  an  hour  and  a-half  high.  The 
left  had  already  absorbed  the  centre,  and  the  centre  and  right  had 
absorbed  every  brigade  in  the  army,  except  one  holding  a  vital 
point.  I  followed  Sheridan's  swift  brigades  and  soon  saw  the 
right  of  our  line  in  confusion,  falling  back  rapidly  under  an 
appalling  fire.  Sheridan's  third  brigade,  commanded  by  that 
true  gentleman  and  soldier,  Col.  Bradley,  deployed  into  line,  and 

30 


458  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  very  instant  its  flanks  turned  to  the  front  it  pushed  into  an 
open  field  at  a  double  quick,  while  behind  it  Wood's  two  brigades 
rallied  and  gathered  up  their  scattered  groups.  I  heard  a  cheer, 
loud  and  ringing,  and  riding  up  behind  the  line  of  Col.  Bradley's 
charge,  saw  four  noble  regiments  far  across  the  field  pouring 
swift  volleys  into  the  flying  foe,  and  flapping  their  colors  in  tri 
umph.  Their  cheers  subsided,  and  a  sharp  shower  of  balls  warned 
me  away  from  the  inspiriting  sight.  In  a  moment  Sheridan 
dashed  back  to  the  rear,  hatless,  but  his  eyes  aglow  with  pride  for 
the  brilliant  charge  of  his  brigade.  His  practiced  ear  had  caught 
the  warning  musketry  rattle  of  a  counter  charge,  and  he  threw 
his  second  brigade  into  line  for  another  charge  if  the  other  one 
was  compelled  to  give  way.  But  it  did  not  give  way.  Inspired 
by  Sheridan  and  Bradley  it  withstood  the  shock,  and  its  assail 
ants  hastily  retired.  A  few  more  straggling  shots,  and  firing 
ceased  along  the  whole  line,  as  if  both  parties  had  exhausted 
themselves.  Just  as  night  fell,  a  terrific  fire  of  musketry  opened 
on  our  centre  where  Negley  was  moving  into  position,  but  it  lasted 
not  ten  minutes,  then  all  was  quiet  again.  The  moon,  which  in 
a  few  nights  had  grown  from  the  slenderest  of  silver  sickles  into 
a  graceful,  golden  canoe,  was  far  on  its  nightly  voyage,  shining 
faintly  on  two  weary  armies,  bent  on  destroying  each  other,  and 
waiting  only  for  the  line  and  gold  of  sunrise  to  renew  the  struggle." 
With  the  exception  of  Granger's  Reserve  Corps,  Ly tie's  Bri 
gade  was  all  of  our  army  that  did  not  participate  in  the  battle. 
As  for  us,  while  holding  that  important  point,  so  vital  to  the 
safety  of  our  right,  we  expected  every  moment  to  take  a  share 
in  the  fray ;  but  it  was  ours  only  to  listen  to  the  whistle  of  scat 
tering  bullets,  dodge  an  occasional  stray  shell  that  came  whirling 
over  our  heads,  and  witness  the  agonies  of  the  wounded  and  dying. 
Night  closed  the  scene,  and  we  lay  on  our  arms  expecting  to 


A    HEAVY   NIGHT    CONFLICT.  459 

be  called  in  any  emergency,  for  we  could  plainly  hear  the  enemy 
busy  in  their  preparations,  ahead,  and  now  and  then  the  crack 
of  a  rifle  and  the  whiz  of  a  stray  bullet  fired  by  an  advanced 
picket.  It  was  a  chilly  as  well  as  an  anxious  night  as  we  lay  on 
the  cold  ground.  Still  it  brought  us  some  rest  from  our  long  and 
tiresome  forced  march.  About  eight  or  nine  o'clock  we  were 
startled  by  a  heavy  night  conflict  on  the  left  of  our  line,  where 
two  of  Thomas'  Divisions  had  been  suddenly  attacked,  resulting 
in  heavy  losses  on  both  sides,  and  final  repulse  of  the  enemy. 

The  battle  of  Saturday  resulted  in  our  general  success.  The 
contest  raged  along  hillsides  and  amid  forests  and  ravines.  The 
army  lines  extended  over  nearly  three  miles  of  ground,  arid  only 
by  the  smoke  that  rose  above  the  heights,  the  dust  that  ascended 
above  the  forest  trees  in  the  valley,  or  as  the  cannon's  roar  and 
the  rattling  discharges  of  musketry  were  heard  upon  surround 
ing  hills,  could  the  observer  note  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide  of 
battle.  Besides  the  beginning  of  the  conflict,  being  on  the  part 
of  both  Generals  rather  accidental  than  intentional,  the  lines  had 
a  great  deal  of  an  extempore  character,  and  on  our  side  the  dif 
ferent  divisions  were  arranged  without  any  reference  to  their 
place  in  the  corps,  each  being  thrown  in  where  it  was  most  needed. 
But  we  closed  at  night  with  a  continuous  line  and  with  a  more 
compact  and  favorable  formation  than  we  had  had  any  time  during 
the  day.  Gen.  Bragg  had  one  marked  advantage,  in  that  he  had 
more  troops  in  reserve  available  for  the  next  day  than  Rosecrans. 
He  had  three  divisions  almost  untouched,  and  Longstreet  with 
several  fresh  brigades  reached  Ringgold  in  the  evening.  But 
still  he  had  cause  to  feel  uneasy  with  regard  to  the  work  before 
him.  He  had  been  completely  foiled  in  his  strategy  and  tactics. 
He  had  expected  to  find  Crittenden's  corps  on  the  left  of  the 
national  army,  but  his  own  enveloping  lines  had  been  taken  in 


460  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

flank,  and  the  right  half  had  been  fearfully  shattered.  At  the 
opening  of  the  battle  his  army  had  been  well  in  hand  for  offence 
or  defence,  while  Gen.  Rosecrans  had  been  compelled  often  to 
throw  forward  divisions  and  brigades  without  support  on  right  or 
left,  and  the  national  army  was  now  before  him  with  continuous 
lines,  having  the  choice  of  strong  positions  in  the  rear.  Besides, 
this  army  was  yet  upon  the  roads  to  Chattanooga,  which  he  had 
expected  to  grasp  after  he  had  doubled  its  left  upon  its  centre  and 
pressed  it  back  upon  the  mountain  passes.  In  all  his  special 
expectations  and  dominant  aims  Gen.  Bragg  had  been  disap 
pointed  and  defeated. 

Gen.  Bragg  received  reinforcements  during  the  night,  and  with 
them,  their  commander,  Lieut.  Gen.  Longstreet.  He  transferred 
all  his  infantry  to  the  west  bank  of  the  Chickamauga;  divided 
his  army  into  two  wings,  placing  Gen.  Polk  in  command  on  the 
right  and  Gen.  Longstreet  on  the  left.  He  ordered  the  former 
to  attack  from  his  right  at  daylight  and  to  bring  his  divisions  into 
action  consecutively  to  his  left,  and  the  latter  to  await  develop 
ments  on  the  right  and  then  attack  in  similar  manner.  While 
thus  ordering  an  attack  along  his  whole  line,  the  special  object 
to  be  sought  and  gained  was  the  possession  of  the  Lafayette  road 
to  Rossville  and  Chattanooga. 

On  our  side,  about  midnight,  after  a  conference  with  his  corps 
commanders  and  other  general  officers,  Rosecrans  gave  orders 
relative  to  the  battle  front  for  the  next  day.  Thomas  was  to  main 
tain  his  line  as  formed  on  Saturday  evening ;  McCook  was  to 
withdraw  Sheridan's  and  Davis'  Division  and  form  a  new  line, 
further  to  the  north  and  west,  with  the  right  resting  at  the  Widow 
Glenn's  and  the  left  joining  to  Thomas'  right,  thus  making  a 
shorter  but  a  stronger  line.  Crittenden  was  to  withdraw  Wood's 
and  Van  Cleve's  Divisions  to  the  rear  of  the  junction  of  Thomas' 


DISPOSITION    OP   THE   TROOPS.  461 

right  and  McCook's  left,  to  be  ready  for  the  support  of  either. 
The  cavalry  were  to  connect  with  McCook  and  receive  orders 
from  him,  which  proved  in  the  end  to  be  the  pivot  on  which 
the  misfortunes  of  next  day's  engagement  turned.  Negley,  at 
Gen.  Thomas'  request,  was  to  be  relieved  from  his  place  in  the 
line  and  transferred  to  the  extreme  left,  to  aid  in  defending  that 
flank,  which  it  was  anticipated  would  be  the  chief  point  of  attack 
by  the  enemy. 

Before  daylight,  the  divisions  designated  for  new  positions, 
except  Negley's,  made  the  movements  required,  while  those  in 
position,  as  far  as  practicable,  covered  their  fronts  with  barricades 
of  logs  and  rails.  Gen.  McCook  placed  Lytle's  Brigade,  of  Sher 
idan's  Division,  to  the  right  and  rear  of  Widow  Glenn's,  and 
Laibold's  and  Bradley's  to  the  rear  and  right  of  Lytle,  and 
the  two  brigades  of  Davis'  Division,  Carlin's  arid  Heg's,  in  rear 
of  the  line  thus  formed.  Wilder's  Brigade  of  mounted  men  was 
divided,  two  regiments  being  placed  on  the  right  and  two  on  the 
left  of  Sheridan.  Gen.  Crittenden  posted  his  two  divisions  on 
the  eastern  slope  of  Missionary  Ridge,  in  readiness  to  support 
either  the  right  or  the  left.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say,  in  view'  of 
all  subsequent  events,  that  had  this  line  remained  substantially 
undisturbed  and  Negley  been  sent  before  daylight  to  his  place  on 
the  left,  our  right  would  have  held  its  ground,  and  night  would 
have  seen  a  complete  victory  for  our  army.  Unfortunately,  how 
ever,  these  dispositions  did  not  command  the  approval  of  Gen. 
Rosecrans,  when  he  inspected  the  lines  after  daylight.  He 
wished  to  hold  the  space  from  Widow  Glenn's  house  to  Brannan's 
right  with  McCook's  six  Brigades,  including  Wilder's,  and  keep 
Crittenden 's  corps  wholly  in  reserve.  He  therefore  ordered  Mc 
Cook  to  fill  the  space  to  be  made  vacant  by  the  withdrawal  of 
Negley,  if  practicable.  But  it  was  not  practicable  to  cover  the 


462  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

space  from  Widow  Glenn's  to  Brannan's  right,  except  with  an 
attenuated  line,  and  after  some  delay  Rosecrans  called  upon  Crit- 
tenden  to  furnish  troops  to  fill  the  division  interval  which  Negley 
was  holding.  Gen.  Wood,  therefore,  was  ordered  to  relieve  Negley, 
while"' Van  Cleve  took  position  behind  Wood.  Rosecrans  also 
ordered  Davis  to  form  his  brigades  some  distance  to  the  north 
and  east  of  where  they  were  in  the  rear  of  Sheridan.  As  this 
change  exposed  his  right  flank,  Gen.  McCook  posted  Laibold's 
Brigade,  of  Sheridan's  Division,  to  the  right  and  rear  of  Davis 
and  held  Lytle's  and  Bradley's  Brigades  in  reserve.  This  left 
Ly tie's  Brigade  and  the  36th  in  their  old  position  near  Widow 
Glenn's,  but  with  a  line  much  weakened.  Other  changes  were 
soon  made,  which  still  further  favored  disaster. 

A  heavy  fog  hung  over  the  battle-field  during  the  early  hours 
of  the  day,  and  Gen.  Polk  did  not  attack  as  ordered.  Gen.  Bragg 
waited  near  the  center  of  his  army  until  his  patience  was  exhausted, 
and  then  proceeded  to  his  right,  to  find  that  the  commander  of 
that  wing  was  not  on  the  field  and  that  the  necessary  preparations 
for  battle  had  not  been  made.  During  the  progress  of  prepara 
tions,  Bragg  ordered  a  reconnoisance  beyond  Thomas'  left  ilank, 
and  was  gratified  to  learn  that  the  Lafayette  road  was  open  to  his 
possession.  This  condition  of  aifairs  was  owing  to  the  fact  that 
Negley's  Division  was  still  in  position  on  the  right  of  Brannan. 
Thomas  felt  great  uneasiness,  for  though  his  troops  had  con 
structed  barricades,  the  flank  could  not  be  strong  while  the  prom 
ised  division  was  absent ;  yet  Gen.  Bragg  was  forming  a  combi 
nation  against  it,  both  in  pursuance  of  a  general  plan  and  with 
special  reference  to  its  weakness,  and  he  was  sure  that  an  attack 
would  not  long  be  delayed.  He  therefore  sent  a  staff  officer  to 
hasten  Negley,  two  of  whose  brigades  were  yet  in  line,  the  reserve, 
Gen.  Beatty's,  being  alone  free  to  move.  This  was  the  only  sup- 


OPENING  OF  THE  SECOND  BATTLE.  463 

port  on  Thomas'  left  flank,  in  room  of  a  whole  division  promised 
for  the  coming  battle. 

At  half-past  eight  A.  M.  the  character  of  the  skirmishing  plainly 
indicated  that  the  enemy  was  preparing  for  an  attack,  and  within 
an  hour  from  that  time  he  made  a  furious  assault  upon  the  left  of 
the  general  line,  which  was  rapidly  extended  to  the  right.  The 
single  brigade  protecting  the  flank  was  soon  displaced,  and 
Thomas'  left  flank  was  greatly  overlapped;  but  the  attack  against 
the  main  line  was  so  stoutly  resisted  that  the  enemy  dare  not 
swing  his  right  flank  into  our  rear,  the  other  divisions  being  so 
fearfully  shattered.  Gen.  Cleburne  reported  the  loss  of  five 
hundred  men  in  a  few  minutes.  Breckenridge's  left  brigade  was 
almost  annihilated,  having  lost  its  commander,  Gen.  Helm,  and 
four  Colonels,  two  killed  and  two  wounded.  The  national  artil 
lery  was  especially  effective. 

Thus  their  second  battle  opened  auspiciously  for  our  army ; 
but  as  the  attack  progressed  along  the  line  and  Longstreet 
advanced  to  continue  it,  he  found  only  isolated  fragments  of  a 
battle  line  before  him.  This  state  of  things  resulted  from  a  com 
bination  of  circumstances.  As  the  promised  division  had  not 
been  sent  to  Gen.  Thomas,  he  repeated  his  requests  for  reinforce 
ments,  especially  after  the  opening  of  the  action.  These  calls, 
and  the  quietness  of  the  enemy  on  the  right,  induced  Gen.  Rose- 
crans  to  believe  that  Bragg  was  moving  his  army  to  his  right. 
So  strong  was  this  belief  that  he  finally  decided  to  withdraw  his 
own  right  altogether.  At  ten  A.  M.  he  ordered  Gen.  McCook  to 
make  dispositions  looking  to  the  movement  of  his  troops  to  the 
left,  and  soon  after  gave  him  a  specific  order  to  send  two  brigades 
of  Sheridan's  Division  to  Gen.  Thomas,  with  all  possible  dispatch, 
and  the  third  as  soon  as  the  line  could  be  sufficiently  withdrawn 
to  permit  it.  He  also  directed  Gen.  Crittenden  to  send  the  two 


464  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

reserve  brigades  of  VanCleve's  Division  to  the  same  destination. 
These  orders  put  in  motion  to  the  left  every  brigade  in  reserve 
except  Wilder's. 

Another  misapprehension  was  still  more  favorable  to  the  enemy. 
Gen.  Rosecrans  having  received  information  that  Brannan's  line 
was  refused,  on  the  right  of  Reynolds,  he  ordered  Gen.  Wood  to 
"  close  up  on  Reynolds  and  support  him."  Regarding  this  order 
too  explicit  in  requirement  and  too  imperative  in  tone  to  warrant 
any  discretion  as  to  obedience,  Gen.  Wood  withdrew  his  division 
with  promptness.  His  left  was  aligned  with  Brannan's  right, 
and  he  saw  no  way  to  close  upon  Reynolds  but  to  withdraw  from 
line  and  pass  to  the  left,  in  the  rear  of  Brannan.  Having  advised 
Gen.  McCook  that  this  change  would  be  made,  Gen.  Wood  moved 
his  division  rapidly  from  line.  Brannan  was  not  out  of  line, 
Reynolds  was  not  under  pressure,  and  just  as  Wood  moved  out 
the  enemy  advanced  to  the  attack,  Wood's  last  brigade  being 
severed  as  it  retired,  and  Brannan  was  struck  in  flank.  Gen. 
Davis  threw  his  reserve  brigade  toward  the  wide,  vacant  space, 
but  the  heavy  columns  of  the  enemy  were  soon  upon  it.  His 
troops  resisted  bravely,  but  assaulted  in  front,  flank  and  rear, 
they  were  lifted  from  position  and  hurled  in  fragments  toward 
Missionary  Ridge.  The  attack  and  issue  were  too  sudden  for 
Laibold's  brigade  to  move  to  his  assistance,  and  the  latter  was 
quickly  routed.  It  was  then  that  Lytle's  and  Bradley's  brigades 
at  the  time  ordered  to  the  left,  were  halted  and  thrown  in  to 
occupy  the  ground  from  which  the  second  brigade  had  been 
driven,  and  gallantly  did  they  face  the  fearful  task ;  but  with  a 
force  flushed  with  sudden  success  swarming  on  both  flanks  and  in 
front,  it  was  a  task  hopeless  and  vain  from  the  first,  and  after  a 
deadly  and  desperate  struggle  they  fell  back  to  the  road  where 
they  rallied,  but  after  checking  the  enemy  were  again  overpowered 


WAITING   TO    RESUME   THE    BATTLE.  465 

by  superior  numbers,  and  the  shattering  of  our  right  wing  was 
complete.  After  this  general  view  of  the  situation,  let  us  now 
retrace  our  steps  and  gather  up  the  story  of  the  first  brigade  and 
the  36th. 

It  was  about  three  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning  that  we  were 
ordered  with  the  brigade  further  to  the  left.  The  hospital  depart 
ment  with  the  ambulances  did  not  follow  until  about  daylight, 
when,  as  they  approached  the  lines,  they  found  the  cavalry  guard 
ing  the  flank,  so  that  for  some  time  they  had  been  outside  our 
lines,  and  in  coming  in,  had  passed  so  near  the  enemy  that  they 
could  have  been  fired  on  and  taken,  had  it  not  been  for  the  heavy 
fog  which  covered  everything  until  eight  or  nine  o'clock.  Our 
new  position  proved  to  be  the  Widow  Glenn's  house,  Gen.  Rose- 
cran's  headquarters,  which  had  been  selected  the  preceding  day, 
as  being  the  rear  of  the  center  of  our  line  of  battle,  but  which 
this  morning  was  our  extreme  right.  Here  the  men  had  break 
fast,  the  88th  kindly  giving  our  boys  one  day's  rations.  By  and 
by  Rosecrans  came  round  accompanied  by  his  staff  and  escort. 
He  looked  in  bad  plight,  but  his  voice  was  ringing  and  cheery. 
"Boys,"  said  he,  "I  never  fight  Sundays,  but  if  they  begin  it  we 
will  end  it." 

The  men  lay  round,  ready  at  a  single  bound  to  reach  their 
places,  while  all  speculated  as  to  the  coming  events  of  the  day. 
Some  of  the  officers  of  the  51st,  which  was  close  by,  came  over, 
and  gave  us  a  full  account  of  their  part  in  the  battle  of  the  day 
before,  declaring  it  the  hottest  place  they  were  ever  in.  Gradually 
the  fog  lifted  and  a  warm  and  beautiful  day  greeted  us  ;  a  day  for 
praising  and  serving  God,  rather  than  for  destroying  man.  Every 
one  felt  that  it  would  not  be  long  before  the  enemy  would  show 
his  intentions.  There  were  conversations,  too,  and  words  that 
proved  to  be  the  last  with  many,  which  will  long  be  remembered 


466  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

by  the  survivors.  There  was  Gen.  Lytle,  as  he  sat  calm  and 
dignified  at  the  head  of  the  brigade,  to  all  appearance  unmoved 
by  the  circumstances,  though  comprehending  all  the  gravity  of 
the  situation.  As  soon  as  the  brigade  had  taken  its  place  near 
Widow  Glenn's,  he  called  aside  one  of  his  aids,  Lieut.  J.  M. 
Turnbull,  of  Company  E,  and  told  him  that  he  felt  a  great  battle 
would  be  fought  that  day  and  that  he  would  be  killed.  He  said, 
"  Turnbull,  I  want  you  to  stay  with  me  to-day.  I  will  have 
orders  carried  by  others,  and  I  want  you  to  stay  with  me."  His 
reply  was,  "  General,  if  that  is  your  wish,  while  I  live  and  you 
live  we  will  be  together."  There  were  Capt.  Wakeman  and 
Lieut.  0.  Smith,  who  had  taken  such  an  interest  in  the  erec 
tion  of  our  chapel  and  who  had  officiated  as  ushers  at  the  ded 
ication.  Capt.  Wakeman  had  been  sick  for  a  number  of  days 
and  unable  to  march,  and  Surgeon  Lytle  had  offered  to  send  him 
back,  but  he  had  repeatedly  declined  to  go.  The  Chaplain  remon 
strated  with  him  that  morning,  but  he  adhered  to  his  resolution  to 
stand  by  the  boys. 

Every  little  while,  scattering  shots  from  the  picket  line  were 
heard,  but  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock,  the  thickening  sounds 
began  to  tell  that  the  day's  work  was  opening.  It  was  not  long 
before  the  musketry  increased  to  a  continuous  roll,  and  then  the 
booming  of  artillery  began,  telling  us  that  our  left  was  attacked. 
Fierce  and  long  did  the  terrible  roar  continue,  and  then  it  came 
nearer,  making  every  man  feel  that  it  could  not  be  long  before 
the  terrible  storm  would  break  on  us.  And  nearer  it  did  come, 
till  the  crash  seemed  almost  upon  us.  Troops  near  by  moved  up 
at  quick  pace,  aad  batteries  of  artillery  were  started  off  at  a 
jump,  but,  unlike  what  we  had  experienced  before,  we  seemed 
left  till  the  last,  whereas  our  place  had  hitherto  been  at  the  front. 
Those  who  were  present  will  never  forget  the  awful  silence  in 


GALLANT    CONDUCT    OF    LIEUT.    TURNBULL.  467 

which  these  movements  were  watched  and  orders  were  waited ; 
every  man  grasping  his  gun  and  every  officer  standing  to  his 
place.  Soon  there  came  an  orderly  at  full  speed  and  dashed  up  to 
Gen.  Lytle.  It  was  but  a  word,  and  his  voice  like  a  trumpet  rang 
out,  "Fall  in!"  Every  officer  took  up  the  word  and  every  man 
was  in  his  place.  "  Forward — double-quick  !"  and  in  a  moment 
the  regiment  was  dashing  down  the  slope  and  on  to  the  scene  of 
conflict. 

A  little  while  before  this  order  was  received,  Lieut.  Turnbull 
was  sent  forward  to  the  skirmish  line  in  our  front,  commanded 
by  Capt.  Bross,  of  the  88th.  On  reaching  the  left  of  the  line, 
which  rested  just  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  he  found  that  it  did 
not  connect  with  the  troops  on  the  left.  Enquiring  of  the  Ser 
geant  about  it,  he  learned  that  the  line  had  been  withdrawn  a 
few  minutes  before  (the  result  of  moving  Wood  to  the  left). 
Telling  the  Sergeant  to  caution  the  men  not  to  fire  on  him,  he 
rode  to  the  front  to  reconnoitre.  Proceeding  about  a  hundred 
yards  through  the  thick  brush,  he  heard  troops  moving  before 
him  and  so  near  that  he  could  hear  the  command,  "Halt," 
"  Halt,"  continuously  given.  He  divined  at  once  that  the  enemy 
were  massing,  after  crossing  Chickamauga,  preparatory  to  a  move 
ment  through  our  broken  lines.  Turning,  no  time  was  lost  in 
reaching  our  skirmishers  whom  he  ordered  at  once  to  face  to  the 
left  and  move  into  the  woods,  the  right  of  the  line  to  rest  where 
the  left  then  was.  He  returned  as  fast  as  his  horse  could  carry 
him  to  the  brigade,  which  he  found  moving,  as  we  have  described, 
under  the  guidance  of  one  of  Rosecrans'  staff  officers,  whose 
name  (happily  for  him)  we  do  not  know.  On  taking  his  place 
beside  Gen.  Lytle,  Turnbull  protested  against  moving  by  the 
flank  as  they  were  then  doing  ;  told  him  we  should  move  in  line 
of  battle,  that  the  enemy  were  close  to  us  in  our  front  and  we 


468  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

should  have  to  form  line  of  battle  under  fire.  The  General 
called  the  staff  officer  and  told  him.  He  laughed,  and  said  he 
had  just  come  from  the  front,  and  intimated  that  Turnbull  was 
scared.  So  on  they  went,  through  dust  enough  to  choke,  and  heat 
to  melt,  soon  meeting  the  wounded  and  demoralized  of  the  first 
line  which  had  been  routed  and  driven  back,  while  the  second 
line  was  beginning  to  give  way.  It  seemed  but  a  few  moments 
when  a  most  terrific  volley  was  opened  on  them.  (Turnbull 
looked  around  for  our  staff  officer  who  was  acting  as  guide,  and 
saw  him  riding  rapidly  to  the  rear  and  has  not  seen  him  since.) 
Gen.  Lytle  turned  in  his  saddle  and  gave  the  command  to  the 
officers  at  the  head  of  the  column,  "  By  company,  into  line." 
It  was  taken  up  by  the  line  officers,  and  it  is  questionable  whether 
such  a  command  was  ever  executed  under  such  terrible  fire  so 
gallantly  and  so  well  as  was  this  one  by  these  brave  men.  They 
were  falling  on  every  hand  thick  and  fast,  but  they  formed  a  good 
line  and  moved  rapidly  to  the  crest  of  the  hill.  This  was  the  ground 
which  the  second  brigade  had  tried  to  hold,  and  their  wounded 
and  dead  obstructed  the  way,  while  men,  horses  and  artillery 
were  scattered  in  great  confusion.  One  battery  wagon  swinging 
round  with  almost  lightning  speed  struck  a  dead  tree,  which 
caused  the  top  to  break  off,  coming  down  into  Company  F  and 
striking  two  men,  one  of  whom  was  Oscar  Hobbs,  supposed  to  be 
killed,  but  he  afterwards  revived. 

In  the  order  of  march  our  battery  was  in  the  centre  of  the 
brigade,  which  delayed  very  much  the  formation  of  the  second 
line  of  battle.  Becoming  restive  under  this  delay  Gen.  Lytle 
turned  to  Turnbull  and  ordered  him  to  superintend  the  forma 
tion  of  the  second  line  of  battle  with  all  possible  speed.  The 
Lieutenant  looked  at  him ;  seeing  that  he  was  terribly  in  earnest, 
saluted  him  for  the  last  time,  and  turned  to  execute  his  order. 


DEATH    OF    GEN.    LYTLE.  469 

Directing  the  artillery  to  the  rear,  the  second  line  was  speedily 
formed,  the  front  line  in  the  meantime  having  advanced  to  the 
brow  of  the  hill,  where  it  took  but  a  moment  to  comprehend  the 
situation  and  realize  the  terrible  danger  to  which  they  were 
exposed.  The  sight  was  truly  appalling.  "  We  were  in  an  old 
field  where  the  ground  was  covered  with  dry  grass  and  old  logs 
which  the  bursting  shells  had  set  on  fire.  A  thick  cloud  of  smoke 
had  risen  about  as  high  as  our  heads  and  seemed  hanging  like  a 
funeral  pall  in  the  air.  Under  this  we  could  see,  away  down  the 
slope  of  the  hill  and  across  the  little  valley  just  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  moving  masses  of  men  hurrying  toward  us.  In  our 
front,  not  more  than  seventy  or  seventy-five  yards  distant,  the 
enemy's  front  line  lay  secreted  behind  a  low  rail  fence.  We  set 
to  work  with  a  will,  while  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  belched  forth 
a  stream  of  fire,  and  a  battery  of  artillery  on  the  right  flank  tore 
the  ground  with  grape  and  shell." 

But  more  quickly  than  we  can  tell  the  story,  death  was  doing 
its  terrible  work.  Gen.  Lytle  had  bravely  fronted  his  brigade. 
Riding  up  before  our  regiment  and  praising  its  conduct,  he  drew 
his  sword  close  by  our  colors  and  was  apparently  about  to  give 
orders  to  charge,  when  he  was  struck  in  the  head  with  a  bullet, 
and  fell  into  the  arms  of  one  of  his  aids,  while  his  horse  galloped 
to  the  rear.  This  was  the  General's  third  battle  and  third  wound. 
Struck  at  Carnifex  Ferry,  and  grievously  hurt  at  Perryville,  on 
both  occasions  he  had  requested  those  around  him  to  leave  him, 
exclaiming  that  he  was  mortally  hurt.  Now  he  again  begged  to 
be  abandoned,  but  not  until  the  enemy  had  almost  closed  around 
him  did  the  aid  obey  his  desire,  and  then  the  General  was  appar 
ently  dead. 

In  the  meantime  the  fiery  conflict  grew  more  desperate  and 
deadly.  Col.  Miller,  on  whom  the  command  of  the  brigade 


470  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

devolved,  gallant  as  ever ;  Lieut.  Col.  Olson,  brave  to  a  fault, 
and  Major  Sherman,  true  and  unflinching,  were  everywhere  con 
spicuous,  encouraging  the  men  by  their  example  to  wring  from 
unwilling  hands  of  fate  the  victory  which  was  denied.  Our 
exposed  left  was  not  unseen.  "  Who  will  take  care  of  our  left  ?" 
said  a  man  to  Major  Sherman.  " Never  you  mind  the  left,"  he 
replied,  "  take  care  of  what  is  in  your  front."  And  well  did 
they  do  it  against  ever  increasing  forces,  sending  well  directed 
volleys  into  their  ranks  which  staggered  and  checked  them ;  while 
the  gallant  color-bearer,  William  R.  Toll,  of  Company  C,  seem 
ing  to  know  no  fear,  stood  erect,  waving  in  the  very  faces  of  the 
foe  our  glorious  flag,  already  blazoned  with  the  names  of  "Pea 
Ridge,"  "  Perry  ville  "  and  "Stone  River,"  soon  torn  and  the 
staff  shattered  by  many  a  bullet  aimed  at  the  brave  bearer. 
Ezra  Parker,  Corporal  Company  B,  one  of  the  color  guard  and 
a  true  man,  fell  pierced  by  a  bullet  through  the  forehead.  Sergt. 
Hitchcock,  of  Company  B,  at  the  extreme  left,  was  notified  to 
detail  another  corporal  to  fill  his  place.  He  designated  Corp. 
Charles  G.  Ayers,  .who,  like  the  true  and  brave  soldier  that  he 
was,  shouldered  his  musket  and  ran  to  his  stern  post  of  duty,  and 
afterwards  he  could  show  forty  bullet  holes  through  his  blankets 
and  uniform.  Fearful  was  the  havoc  which  the  storm  of  lead 
was  making.  Capts.  Mitchell,  Campbell,  Hobbs,  Austin,  Wake- 
man  ;  Lieuts.  0.  Smith,  Company  E,  Denning  (on  Gen.  Sheri 
dan's  staff),  Myron  A.  Smith,  Company  H,  and  a  host  of  non 
commissioned  officers  and  privates  were  falling  victims.  The 
air  seemed  alive  with  bullets,  and  every  moment  the  ranks  were 
growing  thinner.  The  column  which  had  dashed  on  to  the  field 
fifteen  minutes  before  with  three  hundred  and  seventy  men,  had 
already  lost  one-half,  while  the  enemy  in  growing  ranks  were 
swarming  around  both  flanks  as  well  as  pressing  on  the  front. 


TERRIFIC   ATTACK    OF    THE    ENEMY.  471 

The  command  was  given  to  fall  back,  which  was  executed  in  good 
order,  every  step  of  the  ground  being  contested,  until  they 
reached  the  valley  through  which  they  had  come,  when  fighting 
behind  rocks  and  trees  they  checked  for  a  little  while  the  advanc 
ing  foe.  It  was  a  bitter  thought  that  they  should  have  so  many 
of  their  comrades  wounded  and  some  dying  in  the  enemy's  hands. 
Quite  a  number  were  helped  off  the  field,  others  were  assisted  to 
sheltered  places  behind  trees,  &c.  But  time  was  short — on 
again  came  the  hosts  of  the  enemy,  bringing  artillery  with  grape 
and  canister  to  bear,  until  slowly  the  retreat  was  continued  across 
the  road  and  into  the  woods  beyond,  halting  and  checking  their 
advance  from  time  to  time,  until  all  hope  was  gone — our  right 
had  been  utterly  shattered. 

At  the  time  the  brigade  was  ordered  in,  the  Hospital  Depart 
ment  with  the  ambulances  followed  and  took  position  on  the  west 
side  of  the  road,  sending  in  the  men  detailed  with  stretchers, 
and  waited  to  render  assistance  to  the  wounded  at  the  earliest 
moment.  As  the  last  file  of  men  disappeared  in  the  woods  now 
half  hidden  in  dust  and  smoke,  the  roll  and  crash  of  musketry 
was  so  terrible  that  it  seemed  impossible  for  any  one  to  come  out 
of  such  a  storm  alive.  Here  they  gazed  in  the  direction  of  the 
battle,  expecting  every  moment  some  poor,  wounded  soldier  would 
be  brought  for  relief,  instead  of  which  only  here  and  there  a 
straggling  one  appeared  with  a  slight  wound,  able  to  take  care  of 
himself,  while  the  firing,  instead  of  being  checked,  seemed  to 
come  nearer.  Soon  the  bullets  struck  spitefully  in  the  tree-tops, 
and  gave  warning  that  the  ambulances  must  be  moved  further 
back.  Taking  them  back  a  little  way  they  were  halted  again, 
while  the  number  of  slightly  wounded  and  straggling  soldiers 
seemed  to  increase  every  moment.  It  was  but  a  few  minutes  and 
again  the  bullets  were  striking  snappishly  in  the  tree-tops,  and 


472  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

streams  of  men,  wounded  and  unwounded,  began  to  pour  forth. 
Reaching  the  next  ridge,  and  passing  along  it,  we  found  Gen. 
Sheridan  and  Lieut.  Turnbull  riding  up  and  down,  begging  the 
men  to  halt  and  form  line.  The  Lieutenant,  after  executing 
Gen.  Lytle's  last  order,  to  form  the  second  line,  had  his  horse 
shot  under  him,  saw  the  General's  galloping  riderless,  and  soon 
the  whole  line  gave  way.  He  made  all  haste  to  procure  another 
horse,  then  rode  back  to  the  ridge  where  we  saw  him,  and  with 
the  help  of  other  officers  undertook  to  organize  by  pressing  into 
the  ranks  every  person  that  came  to  the  rear.  When  they  had 
got  about  a  hundred  men  in  line,  Gen.  Sheridan  and  a  staff 
officer  or  two  rode  up  and  said,  "  You  are  doing  a  good  work ; 
have  the  men  fall  back  to  the  next  ridge  and  gather  up  every 
straggler."  As  we  passed  on  we  heard  him  say,  "  0,  my  men, 
wont  you  make  a  stand  here?"  By  following  too  much  the  lay 
of  the  country  we  were  unconsciously  facing  too  much  to  our  right 
where  we  should  be  exposed  to  capture,  and  so  were  directed  to 
bear  to  the  left.  Passing  over  a  ridge  we  found  a  road  in  the 
next  hollow,  on  which  were  streaming  wagons,  ambulances,  cais 
sons,  officers  and  men,  mounted  and  unmounted,  wounded  and. 
unwounded.  Here  we  gathered  more  of  our  wounded.  Capt. 
Austin  and  Lieut.  Denning,  who  had  both  been  helped  off  the 
field,  were  taken  up.  The  ambulances  were  loaded.  Surgeons 
Lytle  and  Hatch  and  the  Chaplain  gave  up  their  horses  for  the 
wounded  to  ride,  and  so  we  pressed  on,  expecting  every  moment 
to  see  the  Rebel  cavalry  coming  down  upon  us  and  capture  this 
long  train.  By  and  by  we  came  to  a  cross  road,  near  a  high 
ridge,  en  which  were  cavalry  men  and  a  part  of  McCook's  escort, 
stopping  every  straggler  and  beginning  to  form  a  line.  Here  all 
the  ambulances,  wounded  men  and  hospital  arrangements  were 
ordered  to  make  their  way  with  all  speed  to  Chattanooga,  about 
twelve  miles  distant  from  this  point. 


SERGEANT   BROWNLEE'S    HEROISM.  473 

While  they  were  wending  their  way  to  the  city,  the  work  of 
re-organization  went  on  rapidly.  Lieut.  Turnbull  with  his 
co-workers  had  gathered  two  or  three  hundred  men  by  the  time 
they  made  their  second  halt,  and  it  was  not  long  before  Gen. 
Sheridan  had  quite  a  force  ready  and  willing  to  follow  him  any 
where.  Then  came  a  short  council  of  war,  which  is  a  good  illus 
tration  of  the  fertility  of  that  General's  brain  on  a  battle-field. 
"Officers,"  said  he,  "  we  are  cut  off  from  the  main  army  and 
must  reach  Gen.  Thomas  with  the  least  possible  delay.  This,  I 

think,  from  my  field  notes,  is Ridge,  and,  if  I  am  right, 

by  following  it  we  shall  come  to  a  cross-road,  where,  I  hope,  we 
can  communicate  with  the  General."  He  was  right,  and  on  the 
march  thither  fragments  of  each  regiment  in  the  brigade  were 
gathered  up.  Among  them  was  French  Brownlee,  Sergeant 
Company  B,  who  had  been  sick  for  some  time  and  was  directed 
by  his  officers  and  Surgeon  to  stay  with  the  ambulance  and  aid 
the  wounded.  But  his  spirit  had  no  rest,  and  as  our  line  retired 
he  kept  near  enough  to  use  his  Springfield  rifle.  The  98th 
Illinois  coming  near  where  he  was,  one  of  their  captains  requested 
him  to  lead  some  skirmishers.  He  soon  found  three  rebels  roam 
ing  over  the  field,  ordered  them  to  halt,  promising  them  safety. 
One  came  in ;  he  sent  the  contents  of  his  musket  after  another, 
giving  him  a  close  call,  but  not  being  supported  by  the  skirmish 
ers  he  retired  with  his  one  prisoner  and  handed  him  over  to  the 
98th.  In  following  the  regiment  he  passed  the  killed  and 
wounded,  gave  the  latter  what  water  he  had,  and  soon  found  the 
color  bearer  of  the  22nd  Illinois  wounded.  He  carried  his  flag 
and  assisted  him  to  walk  until  he  gave  him  into  the  care  of  one 
of  his  own  men,  then,  aften  two  hours  of  painful  search,  succeeded 
in  finding  his  own  regiment  as  it  moved  under  Sheridan. 

On  reaching  the  Dry   Creek  Valley  road,  the  force  having 
increased  to  fifteen  hundred,  some  delay  occurred,  and  the  troops 

31 


474  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

re-organized.  The  commanding  officers  of  each  regiment  were 
stationed  at  a  designated  spot,  and  the  members  of  the  different 
regiments  directed  to  report  to  them.  Here  the  brigade  again 
took  form.  Col.  Miller  was  put  in  command,  and  Turnbull 
ordered  to  report  to  him  for  duty.  It  was  soon  ascertained,  how 
ever,  that  the  enemy  had  moved  on  a  parallel  line  with  us,  and 
were  already  in  possession  of  the  Dry  Valley  road,  so  the  Gen 
eral  determined  to  make  a  rapid  march  through  Rossville  and 
join  Gen.  Thomas  on  the  Lafayette  road.  This  was  successfully 
accomplished  about  half-past  five  P.  M.,  Sheridan  reporting  with 
more  men  and  guns  than  he  carried  originally  into  the  fight. 

When  the  right  was  compelled  to  give  way  under  the  over 
whelming  force  brought  against  it,  it  was  the  general  opinion  of 
all  in  that  part  of  the  line  that  the  disaster  extended  to  the  whole 
army.  Rosecrans,  McCook  and  Crittenden,  all  shared  this  con 
clusion,  but  as  the  afternoon  proceeded  it  was  found  that  the 
right  and  centre  still  held  their  ground.  Bragg  made  another 
and  still  heavier  attack  on  our  right,  but  was  repulsed  with  great 
slaughter.  Brannan,  a  part  of  whose  division  was  broken  with 
the  right  wing,  succeeded  in  rallying  and  taking  up  a  very  strong 
position  to  the  right  and  rear,  and  by  throwing  up  barricades 
made  it  impregnable.  Other  dispositions  were  made  to  the  right 
and  left  of  him  as  emergencies  arose,  and  at  last  Longstrcet,  who 
had  been  massing  his  forces  through  the  afternoon,  made  a  most 
desperate  attack,  which,  however,  though  repeated  again  and  again, 
was  successfully  resisted.  But  there  was  a  depression  on  the  west 
of  Brannan  which  afforded  easy  passage  around  it.  This  pas 
sage  the  enemy  started  to  seize,  arid  thus  take  in  reverse  the 
line  which  had  repelled  every  direct  attack.  This  was  the  crisis 
of  the  whole  battle.  A  few  moments  more  and  the  day  would 
have  been  utterly  lost  to  us.  At  this  critical  juncture  Gen. 


LONGSTREET  REPULSED.  475 

Granger  with  his  reserve  troops  which  had  hastened  from  Ross- 
ville,  reported  to  Gen.  Thomas,  who  directed  him  at  once  to  our 
threatened  right;  and  as  the  enemy  moved  down  the  northern 
slope  towards  our  rear,  Steedman's  Division,  with  a  fury  born  of 
the  impending  peril,  charged  the  foe  and  drove  him  over  the  ridge. 
In  gaining  their  position  one  thousand  men  were  lost,  "  but  if 
the  issue  of  battle  has  ever  given  compensation  for  the  loss  of 
valuable  lives,  it  was  in  this  action,  for  the  opportune  aid  of  these 
two  brigades  saved  the  army  from  defeat  and  rout."  Longstreet 
afterward  massed  his  whole  force  to  carry  these  positions,  but  he 
failed  in  every  instance,  the  configuration  of  the  ground  proving 
very  much  to  the  advantage  of  our  men,  who  could  advance  and 
deliver  a  plunging  fire  from  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  by  a  slight 
recession  while  loading  were  entirely  covered  from  the  bullets  of 
the  enemy.  Indeed,  the  greatest  danger  at  last  was  the  scarcity 
of  ammunition,  the  average  to  the  man  being  not  more  than  three 
rounds,  and  it  was  quite  common  to  search  the  cartridge  boxes  of 
those  who  fell.  Whenever  ammunition  failed  entirely,  the  order 
was  given  to  fix  bayonets  and  hold  the  hill  with  cold  steel.  Thus 
was  the  enemy  repulsed  at  every  point  until  night  fell,  arid  in 
the  final  attacks  this  was  accomplished  in  no  slight  measure  with 
the  bayonet  and  clubbed  muskets. 

After  Sheridan  had  reported  to  Thomas,  his  division  was  sent 
toward  Rossville  to  bring  off  a  train  which  was  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  After  marching  some  miles,  they  went  in 
perfect  silence  to  within  rifle  shot  of  the  enemy's  camp-fires 
without  discovery,  secured  the  train,  and  returned  five  miles, 
where  they  bivouacked  for  the  night  as  best  they  could.  A  more 
tired  and  hungry  set  of  men  it  would  have  been  hard  to  find, 
some  having  had  nothing  to  eat  all  day,  and  others  had  break 
fasted  on  bran  pudding.  But  saddest  of  all  was  the  thought 


476  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

that  so  many  comrades  were  gone,  partners  and  mess-mates, 
killed,  wounded  or  missing.  Not  a  few  have  never  been  heard 
of  since.  During  the  night  the  army  was  withdrawn,  and  took 
a  strong  position  around  Rossville. 

The  train  of  ambulances  with  the  wounded  whom  we  left  on 
the  road  to  Chattanooga  pursued  their  way  all  the  afternoon  and 
evening,  being  much  delayed  by  various  causes,  but  arrived  in 
the  town  about  nine  o'clock.  Wagons,  ambulances  and  all  kinds 
of  army  baggage,  with  wounded  and  unwounded  men,  had  been 
streaming  in  on  the  different  roads  all  the  afternoon.  The 
teams  filling  the  main  streets  in  rows  four  and  five  deep,  were 
ordered  across  the  river.  Breastworks  were  planned  and  com 
menced  in  the  rear  of  the  place,  ready  for  a  new  and  last  line 
of  battle  should  such  a  struggle  come.  The  stragglers  were 
set  to  work,  and  many  of  them  reformed  and  sent  back  to  the 
army.  We  had  about  eighty  men  in  the  ambulances  of  which 
we  had  charge,  and  it  was  a  long,  tedious  task  to  find  accommo 
dations  for  them  all,  dress  their  wounds,  and  supply  them  with 
food.  But  this  was  done  before  we  stretched  our  own  tired  limbs 
to  rest  long  after  midnight. 

Next  morning  we  were  up  early,  went  down  to  see  the  boys, 
had  all  the  36th  removed  to  one  of  the  churches,  of  which  Dr. 
Lytle  was  put  in  charge,  drew  rations  for  them,  and  had  their 
wounds  dressed.  The  other  hospitals  also  were  visited  to  find 
any  of  our  men.  By  and  by  the  hospital  wagon  with  the  nurses 
arrived,  the  big  tent  was  set  up,  and  our  men  were  made 
tolerably  comfortable.  Lists  and  descriptions  of  the  wounded 
were  made  out  to  be  sent  home  the  first  opportunity,  and  it  was 
observed  that  the  wounds  as  a  class  were  specially  light,  which 
was  easily  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  worst  wounded  men 
were  unable  to  leave  the  field  when  our  troops  fell  back.  In  the 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  RETREAT.  477 

meantime  every  kind  of  wild  report  was  brought  by  stragglers 
from  the  front,  and  it  was  the  confident  expectation  of  all  that 
our  troops  would  fall  back.  Every  man  capable  of  walking  was 
sent  over  the  river,  where  a  field  hospital  on  a  large  scale  was 
being  laid  out. 

After  the  most  pressing  work  had  been  done,  it  was  arranged 
that  the  Chaplain  and  Dr.  Hatch  should  go  to  the  regiment, 
while  Dr.  Lytle  should  remain  with  the  wounded.  As  they  rode 
out  toward  Rossville  it  was  evident  from  the  streams  of  wagons, 
caissons,  &c.,  coming  in,  that  preparations  were  being  made  for  a 
retreat.  They  found  the  division  a  short  distance  to  the  south 
and  west  of  Rossville,  with  a  strong  line  of  barricades  protect 
ing  their  front  and  flank.  During  the  night  the  army  had  with 
drawn  from  the  position  occupied  at  the  close  of  the  battle,  and 
was  now  grouped  on  the  roads  concentrating  at  Rossville.  Dur 
ing  the  day  the  enemy  with  a  strong  force  of  infantry  and  cav 
alry  approached  on  the  direct  roads  from  the  battle-field,  and  in 
the  afternoon  they  felt  our  lines  and  there  was  considerable  skir 
mishing,  succeeded  later  in  the  day  by  a  brisk  artillery  fire. 
What  remained  of  the  three  left  companies  of  the  regiment,  aided 
by  a  company  from  the  21st  Michigan,  were  sent  forward  about 
one-quarter  of  a  mile  as  skirmishers,  but  were  relieved  at  night. 
Our  army  seemed  terribly  shrunk  in  size,  but  they  were  undaunted 
in  spirit. 

The  movement  to  Chattanooga  was  commenced  at  nine  P.  M. 
It  was  made  by  divisions  in  supporting  distance,  one  after 
another,  from  left  to  right.  Sheridan's  Division  being  on  the 
right,  we  did  not  start  until  two  or  three  o'clock,  although  we 
were  called  up  about  midnight.  The  air  was  chilly;  we  were 
forbidden  all  lights,  fires  or  noisy  movements,  and  it  seemed  as 
though  the  order  to  move  would  never  come.  At  last,  however, 


478  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLfrNTEERS. 

we  filed  out  to  the  road,  and  found  Sheridan  sitting  calmly 
on  his  horse,  waiting  until  the  very  last  of  his  division  had  safely 
retired.  His  subsequent  history  only  confirmed  the  confident 
judgment  of  his  men  that  night  that  had  he  been  in  a  superior 
instead  of  subordinate  command,  the  results  at  Chickamauga 
would  have  been  much  more  satisfactory.  Our  march  was  in 
double  column,  filling  the  whole  road  so  that  the  retreat  was 
speedily  made.  At  five  o'clock  we  reached  the  suburbs  of  Chat 
tanooga,  where,  after  breakfast,  the  brigade  was  set  to  digging 
rifle  pits,  and  the  siege  and  defence  of  Chattanooga  had  begun. 

The  battle  of  Chickamauga  has  provoked  the  most  active  crit 
icism  from  both  sections  of  the  country.  But  the  verdict  of 
time  is  not  very  different  from  that  which  our  army  gave  as  they 
entrenched  themselves  at  the  foot  of  Lookout,  that  provided  we 
held  Chattanooga  it  was  for  our  army  a  great  triumph.  For,  if 
to  attain  and  hold  the  objective  point  of  the  campaign,  to  throw 
ourselves  across  such  a  river,  and  by  wise  and  vigorous  marching 
day  and  night  over  mountains  and  through  mountain  gaps, 
threaten  communications  and  then  elude  attack  in  detail,  gather 
up  our  widely  scattered  forces  and  concentrate  in  the  face  of  an 
outnumbering  enemy,  foil  his  plans  to  throw  himself  on  our 
flanks,  and  then  in  a  great  battle  not  only  hold  him  at  bay,  but 
inflict  upon  his  overwhelming  force  such  terrible  losses  that  he 
was  incapable  of  any  but  the  most  cautious  following  when  we 
fell  back  to  occupy  the  place  for  which  we  had  been  contending 
— if  all  this  was  not  success,  what  was  it? 

On  the  other  hand,  for  Bragg  to  have  his  own  army  reinforced 
by  large  bodies  from  both  the  east  and  west,  a  veteran  corps  from 
Lee  in  Virginia,  Buckner's  corps  from  East  Tennessee,  troops 
from  Mississippi  and  Georgia,  until  this  force  was  superior  to 
ours  by  twelve  or  fifteen  thousand,  with  the  expectation  not 


BRAGIG'S  GENERALSHIP  CRITICISED.  479 

simply  of  retaking  Chattanooga  but  annihilating  the  army  of 
the  Cumberland,  and  then  to  have  failed  to  strike  our  scattered 
forces  in  detail,  to  fail  to  prevent  their  concentration  on  his 
chosen  battle-field,  fail  to  drive  them  from  their  position  even 
when  mistakes  on  our  part  gave  him  the  advantage,  and  then, 
notwithstanding  the  preponderance  in  numbers,  to  suffer  such 
immense  losses  especially  in  men  and  officers,  that  though  pos 
sessing  the  field  he  was  too  exhausted  and  beaten  to  follow  to  any 
purpose,  thus  making  whatever  success  he  had  barren  of  any 
real  results — if  this  was  not  failure,  what  was  it  ?  No  wonder  that 
Bragg's  generalship  was  criticised,  and  that  the  Southern  people 
complained  that  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  gave  no  results  com 
mensurate  with  the  resources  it  represented  or  the  losses  it 
entailed.  Bragg  admits  in  his  report  the  loss  of  two-fifths  of 
his  army ;  two  Major  Generals  were  wounded,  three  Brigadiers 
killed  and  three  wounded,  and  one  of  the  latter  was  captured. 

As  regards  our  own  division  and  brigade  and  the  36th,  every 
man  feels  that  it  was  an  honor  to  have  served  amid  such  perils 
and  contests.  Not  to  mention  the  weary  marches,  day  and  night, 
over  mountains  two  thousand  feet  high,  the  dust,  heat,  lack  of 
water  and  rations,  the  spirit  of  the  men  in  battle  was  something 
to  be  proud  of.  Virtually  deprived  of  the  direct  handling  of 
their  trusted  Sheridan  by  the  over-ruling  orders  of  his  superiors, 
and  thrown  into  the  battle  after  the  enemy  had  made  the  attack 
in  overwhelming  numbers,  success  was  hopeless  before  they  fired 
a  shot;  while  the  large  number  of  both  officers  and  men  who  fell 
in  the  front  line,  attests  the  persistent  courage  of  all  in  the  face 
of  the  most  terrible  odds.  Instead  of  counting  it  any  lessening 
of  their  honor  that  they  finally  fell  back,  it  would  have  been  no 
disadvantage  if  they  had  done  so  sooner,  for  the  forces  both  in 
front  and  on  each  flank  were  simply  overwhelming.  Sergt. 


480  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Hitchcock,  who  was  wounded  in  both  arms  just  before  the  regi 
ment  retired,  and  paralyzed  and  bleeding  was  captured  in  a  few 
moments  by  the  rushing  foe,  was  afterwards  led  under  guard  over 
that  ground  and  found  large  bodies  of  troops  yet  undeployed, 
while  Lieut.  Col.  Thurston,  chief  of  staff  to  McCook's  corps, 
returning  from  Craw-Fish  Springs  with  our  cavalry  about  fifteen 
minutes  after  our  forces  had  retired,  saw  a  long  line  of  the  enemy 
reaching  far  to  the  south  of  Widow  Glenn,  moving  up  to  con 
tinue  the  fight.  To  have  remained  longer  would  have  been  to  be 
captured  bodily.  As  soon  as  re-organized  they  were  ready  again 
for  the  sternest  work,  and  on  the  succeeding  days  and  during 
the  long  siege  of  Chattanooga,  atid  then  on  Mission  Ridge,  gave 
proof  that  though  they  had  been  checked  their  spirit  was  simply 
invincible. 

This  chapter  must  not  be  closed  without  one  more  reference  to 
our  noble  brigade  commander,  who  fell  close  to  our  colors  on  that 
fateful  day.  Under  a  flag  of  truce  his  body  was  recovered  for 
honorable  burial  by  faithful  and  loving  hands,  and  long  will  his 
name  and  memory  be  fragrant  to  the  survivors  of  the  First  Brig 
ade.  Gen.  Lytle  was  a  classical  scholar  and  a  poet,  and  every 
member  of  the  36th  will  be  glad  to  possess  a  copy  of  the  follow 
ing  poem  written  by  him,  and  published  immediately  after  the 
battle  : 

ANTONY  AND  CLEOPATRA. 

BY  GEN.  WM.  H.  LYTLE. 

From  the  Memphis  Bulletin. 

The  following  poem  was  written  by  the  gifted  and  gallant 
Gen.  William  H.  Lytle,  of  Ohio,  who  fell  in  the  recent  battle  in 
Georgia.  It  was  published  a  few  years  ago  in  the  Cincinnati 
Commercial,  and  pronounced  by  W.  W.  Fosdick,  himself  an 
eloquent  poet,  "One  of  the  most  masterly  lyrics  which  has  ever 


GENERAL    LYTLE  S    POEM. 


481 


adorned  American  poetry  ;"  and  he  predicted  for  it  "  a  popular 
ity  and  perpetuity  unsurpassed  by  any  Western  production." 

Both  of  these  gifted  men  are  now  dead.  One  died  in  a  quiet, 
happy  home,  in  a  peaceful  land,  surrounded  by  his  friends  ;  the 
other  "perished  like  a  Roman"  went  down  amid  the  "  Stygian 
honors "  of  battle,  surrounded  by  his  "  scarred  and  veteran 
legions." 

u  Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori."  C.  L.  T. 


"  /  am  dying,  Egypt, 
I  am  dying,  Egypt,  dying, 

Ebbs  the  crimson  life-tide  fast, 
And  the  dark,  Plutonian  shadows 

Gather  on  the  evening  blast. 
Let  thine  arm,  oh  !  Queen,  support  me, 

Hush  thy  sobs  and  bow  thine  ear, 
Hearken  to  the  great  heart  secrets, 

Thou,  and  thou  alone,  must  hear. 

Though  my  scarred  and  veteran  legions 

Bear  their  eagles  high  no  more, 
And  my  wrecked  anil  shattered  galleys 

Strew  dark  Actium's  fatal  shore  ; 
Though  no  glittering  guards  surround  me, 

Prompt  to  do  their  master's  will, 
I  must  perish  like  a  Roman — 

Die  the  great  Triumvir  still. 

Let  not  Csesar's  servile  minions 

Mock  the  lion  thus  laid  low  ; 
'Twas  no  foeman's  hand  that  slew  him, 

'Twas  his  own  that  struck  the  blow. 
Here,  then,  pillowed  on  thy  bosom, 

Ere  his  star  fades  quite  away, 
Him  who,  drunk  with  thy  caresses, 

Madly  flung  a  world  away  ! 


dying." — [Shakespeare. 

Should  the  base  plebeian  rabble 

Dare  assail  my  fame  at  Rome, 
Where  the  noble  spouse,  Octavia,     • 

Weeps  within  her  widowed  home  ; 
Seek  her — say  the  Gods  have  told  me, 

Altars,  augurs,  circling  wings, 
That  her  blood,  with  mine  commingled, 

Yet  shall  mount  the  throne  of  kings. 

And  for  thee,  star  eyed  Egyptian  ! 

Glorious  sorceress  of  the  Nile, 
Light.the  path  to  stygian  honors 

With  the  splendors  of  thy  smile. 
Give  the  Caesar  crowns  and  arches. 

Let  his  brow  the  laurel  twine  ; 
I  can  scorn  the  Senate's  triumphs, 

Triumphing  in  love  like  thine. 

I  am  dying,  Egypt,  dying ! 

Hark  !  insulting  foeman's  cry  ; 
They  are  coming — quick,  my  falchion  ! 

Let  me  front  them  ere  I  die. 
Ah  !  no  more  amid  the  battle 

Shall  my  heart  exulting  swell  ; 
Isis  and  Osiris  guard  thee, 

Cleopatra  !     Rome  !     farewell  ! 


LIST  OF  CASUALTIES  AT  CHICKAMAUGA. 

COMPANY    A. 

Capt.  W.  H.  Mitchell,  left  knee;  Corp.  John  S.  Long,  finger;  Fred 
Krahan,  wounded  and  missing;  Dorus  Murus,  wounded  and  captured 
—since  died;  John  O'Connell,  killed;  Ed.  H.  Robinson,  lungs,  and  cap 
tured— died  at  Andersonville ;  Chas.  B.  Rapp,  killed ;  Michael  Seisloff, 
wounded  slightly ;  Ed.  Nute,  slightly. 

COMPANY    B. 

Capt.  B.  F.  Campbell,  wounded  and  captured;  1st  Sergt.  Samuel 
Hitchcock,  both  arms,  and  captured;  Corp.  Ezra  W.  Parker,  killed. 
Privates  -Jacob  Winn,  died  at  Andersonville;  Rudolph  Berger,  slightly; 
O.F.Brownlee,  knee;  Frank  Dugan,  both  hips;  Fred.  Haeni,  face,  and 


482  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

captured ;  Chas.  Heinzie,  thigh ;  Henry  Levoy,  finger;  John  Ott,  left  arm ; 
Daniel  B.  Roberts,  face ;  Daniel  Terry,  slightly ;  Christian  Brunerneyer, 
face;  Thomas  McCutcheon,  never  heard  from. 

COMPANY  c. 

Corp.  James  L.  Dryden,  wounded  and  captured;  Corp.  William  S. 
Allen,  killed;  Corp.  M.  L.  Bute,  wounded  and  captured — never  heard 
from;  Sergt.  Geo.  N.  Mercer,  wounded;  Ethan  Keck,  wounded;  Thos. 
Leggett,  wounded;  Geo.  H.  Knox,  wounded,  and  died  at  Chattanooga ; 
Hugh  W.  Harper,  wounded ;  John  H.  Ward,  wounded ;  John  G.  Cavis, 
wounded,  captured  and  never  heard  from ;  Geo.  W.  Thompson,  wounded 
and  captured;  William  Ward,  captured;  Elisha  L.  Atkins,  captured, 
and  died  in  the  enemy's  hands;  Benj.  Sawins,  the  same;  Orlando 
Hayes,  captured;  Geo.  Monro,  wounded  and  captured. 

COMPANY  D. 

Sergt.  W.  I.  Maycroft,  neck  and  shoulder;  Corp.  J.  M.  Leach,  foot; 
Corp.  Harvey  Kimball,  killed ;  W  W.  Gifford,  leg,  and  captured ;  Edward 
Seymour,  arm,  captured  and  never  heard  from;  Ezra  Taylor,  body,  and 
missing;  Francis  Phelps,  elbow;  C.  H.  Bissell,  finger;  Joseph  Shaw, 
leg,  slight;  Peter  A.  Johnson,  wounded  and  captured;  Miles  Murray, 
William  P.  Burgess,  Joseph  Apply,  captured. 

COMPANY    E. 

Capt.  A.  M.  Hobbs,  wounded  and  captured;  Lieut.  Orison  Smith, 
killed;  Sergt.  William  Willett,  killed;  Corp.  D.  Burnside,  hip,  and  cap 
tured;  Corp.  John  Phansteil,  slight;  Comfort  Brace,  killed;  Henry  C. 
Baxter,  killed ;  Herbert  Dewey,  wounded  and  captured ;  William  Han 
son,  face;  James  Hatch,  neck;  Henry  Hennes,  hips;  Reuben  Perrin, 
killed;  Oscar  Pecoy,  right  arm;  Henry  Smith,  head,  and  captured; 
Jacob  Wolfe,  killed ;  William  Zellar,  left  arm ;  Elisha  Lloyd,  wounded 
and  captured ;  Barney  Wheeler,  captured. 

COMPANY  F. 

Sergt.  Burgo  Thompson,  head;  Sergt.  Geo.  Neff,  hip;  Corp.  Gunner 
Gunnerson,  shoulder;  James  H.  Hall,  died  in  enemy's  hands,  Sept.  22; 
Ira  M.  Johnson,  neck;  Oscar  Hobbs,  head;  Walter  E.  Partridge,  head; 
William  McLary,  finger;  Chas.  Sweetland,  captured. 

COMPANY    G. 

Capt.  Linas  J.  Austin,  thigh;  Lieut.  Robert  Denning,  thigh;  Sergt. 
William  Rolla,  face;  Sam.  Saltmarsh,  face;  Alex.  Still,  dangerously, 
and  captured;  Daniel  Kennedy,  severely,  and  captured.  Corp.  L.  B. 
Dawson,  left  arm ;  James  Lear,  left  side ;  Robert  Jordan,  leg,  slight ; 
Joseph  Hebert,  slight;  Peter  Bradt,  head  and  breast;  Frank  Bradshaw, 
hip;  Isaac  Carson,  killed;  Joseph  Vogt,  shoulder;  George  Haltz,  killed 
Lewis  Jones,  wounded  and  captured;  Charles  Landon,  wounded  and 
captured.  James  Meacham,  shoulder ;  Sylvester  Meacham,  killed;  Henry 
Spelman,  elbow;  Seth  Slyter,  hand;  Benj.  Stevens,  killed. 


KILLED   AND   WOUNDED.  483 

COMPANY    H. 

Capt.  S  H.  Wakeman,  killed;  Lieut.  M.  A.  Smith,  killed;  Ebenezer 
Lamb,  killed;  David  Warwick,  killed;  John  C.  Wolfe,  arm;  Day 
Elmore,  lungs;  S.  Z.  Carver,  leg;  M.  W.  Goold,  back;  Charles  Dygert, 
breast;  Chas.  Irish,  arm;  John  Holdennan,  head;  Harrison  Montgom 
ery,  lungs,  died  Sept.  26;  Addison  M.  Throop,  head;  Cornelius  Vaimess, 
arm;  Henry  C.  Murray,  shoulder;  Greo.  Jackson,  James  K.  Perkins, 
captured. 

COMPANY  i. 

James  Scully,  killed;  Corp.  J.  Earth,  head;  M.  Manning,  face;  F. 
Shoger,  finger;  F.  Schulenberg,  hand;  F.  Witski,  mouth;  S.  Mall, 
mouth;  Fred  Miller,  captured. 

COMPANY    K. 

Sergt.  David  H.  Dickenson,  leg;  Sergt.  James  C.  Hogue,  leg;  Corp. 
Peter  Barnet,  hip;  Corp.  E.  Pratt,  leg;  James  Delany,  slight;  James 
H.  Hogue,  back;  William  N.  Hall,  neck;  Abram  Long,  shoulder;  Sid 
ney  0.  Munger,  left  leg,  amputated;  Allen  Burroughs,  killed;  William 
Adams,  Lem  Grundy,  J.  Levereau,  Edward  Mayberry,  Harlow  Slate, 
captured. 


CHAPTER    XXIX 


CHATTANOOGA. 

TIEN  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  fell  back 
into  Chattanooga,  it  was  with  no  certainty 
that  it  could  be  held.  Gen.  Rosecrans  ex 
pressed  his  fears  to  the  President,  the  day  after 
the  battle,  that  he  should  not  be  able  to  hold 
his  position.  This  will  partly  account  for  the 
lines  of  defence  which  he  adopted,  and  the  disposition  of  his 
forces.  He  made  no  attempt  to  hold  Lookout  Mountain,  the 
railroad,  or  the  river  below  Chattanooga,  and  was  therefore  shut 
out  from  all  direct  communication  with  Bridgeport  and  Stevenson, 
our  base  of  supplies.  That  is  to  say,  he  made  his  disposition  to 
save  the  army  from  immediate  disaster,  by  protecting  his  bridges 
and  presenting  strong  lines  to  the  enemy,  rather  than  to  prepare 
for  resisting  a  protracted  siege. 

As  soon  as  we  reached  Chattanooga  on  the  morning  of  the 
22nd  of  September,  heavy  details  were  made  for  working  in  rifle 
pits.  Every  hour  added  immensely  to  the  strength  of  the 
position  and  the  courage  and  determination  of  the  men.  The 
lines  selected  were  admirably  adapted  to  their  defensive  purpose ; 
extending  from  Chattanooga  Creek  at  its  mouth,  near  the  foot 


SHERIDAN'S  HONORABLE  MENTION.  485 

of  Lookout,  to  the  mouth  of  Citico  Creek,  north  of  the  town. 
After  the  work  had  progressed  some  hours,  heavy  cannonading 
was  heard  in  front,  as  the  enemy  felt  his  way  towards  our  posi 
tion,  and  the  brigade  fell  in,  the  36th  being  put  in  reserve. 
Probably  it  was  here  that  occurred  that  honorable  mention  of  the 
regiment  which  the  boys  were  glad  to  repeat.  It  having  been 
suggested  to  Gen.  Sheridan  that  an  additional  battery  was  needed 
to  strengthen  a  certain  point,  "  No,"  said  the  General,  "  the 
36th  Illinois  is  stationed  there  ;  no  battery  is  needed."  But  no 
attack  was  made,  the  enemy  being  content  with  skirmishing  and 
finding  out  our  position. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  even  in  these  critical  circum 
stances,  our  mail  came  in,  bringing  a  good  supply  of  Atlantics 
and  Harpers',  besides  the  usual  letters,  so  long  looked  for  and  so 
welcome.  Towards  evening,  things  having  quieted  down — the 
wounded  having  been  all  transferred  to  the  field  hospital — Sur 
geon  Lytle  and  the  Chaplain  determined  to  ride  down  to  the 
river  crossing,  below  the  town,  and  ascertain  for  themselves  the 
the  prospect  of  an  evacuation,  which  it  was  supposed  would  be 
made  that  night,  if  at  all.  It  was  a  beautiful  moonlight  night, 
and  as  they  rode  by  the  foot  of  Cameron  Hill  and  looked  upon 
the  placid  river,  with  the  pontoon  bridge  sleeping  quietly  on  its 
bosom,  the  contrast  with  the  stir,  confusion  and  agitation  of 
the  camp  was  most  marked.  It  was  evident  that  there  was  no 
present  intention  on  the  part  of  our  commander  to  evacuate  the 
town,  which  had  already  cost  us  so  much.  As  they  continued 
their  trip  through  the  principal  streets  of  the  town,  saw  its 
public  buildings,  railroad  facilities,  hospitals,  &c.,  they  thought 
it  ought  not  to  be  evacuated,  but  held  at  all  hazards.  On  their 
return  to  camp,  voices  were  heard  on  all  sides,  asking  for  the 
news.  "Are  we  going  to  evacuate?"  "No,"  was  the  reply, 


486  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

"no  evacuation;  we  must  hold  Chattanooga."  We  had  a  splen 
did  night's  rest,  and  a  marked  improvement  in  the  spirits  of 
the  men  was  visible  next  morning. 

Digging  entrenchments  and  felling  trees  was  the  order  of  the 
day  on  the  23rd,  quickened  by  the  report  that  the  enemy  was 
advancing  upon  us.  After  dinner  there  was  heavy  firing  to  the 
left,  and  all  was  excitement,  as  we  looked  for  a  general  attack 
along  the  lines.  As  the  afternoon  wore  away,  Gen.  Rosecrans 
passed  along  from  left  to  right,  encouraging  the  men  and  receiv 
ing  hearty  cheers  wherever  he  went.  "  We  started  for  Chatta 
nooga;"  said  he,  u  we  are  in  Chattanooga,  and  we  will  stay  in 
Chattanooga."  The  same  day  he  telegraphed  to  Washington 
more  confidently  than  on  the  21st,  saying  :  u  We  hold  this  point, 
and  cannot  be  dislodged,  except  by  very  superior  forces  and  after 
a  great  battle."  Another  good  night's  rest  helped  the  spirits  of 
the  men  wonderfully. 

We  were  up  at  three  o'clock  on  the  24th,  and  that  day  the 
enemy  took  possession  of  Lookout  Mountain.  An  attack  in 
force  was  still  looked  for  and  every  preparation  made  to  meet  it. 
Our  brigade  was  the  extreme  right  of  the  army,  resting  upon  the 
Tennessee  River,  and,  when  on  the  front  line  near  Chattanooga 
Creek,  was  in  the  vicinity  of  a  huge  foundry  and  tannery,  which 
had  done  good  service  to  the  Southern  army.  In  these  buildings 
the  36th  was  set  to  pile  up  combustibles,  so  that  they  might  be 
destroyed  if  we  had  to  abandon  them.  The  enemy,  without 
making  a  general  attack,  succeeded  in  lodging  his  batteries  so 
near  that  a  shell  exploded  in  our  brigade  and  wounded  one  man 
in  the  88th.  The  ambulances  were  ordered  back  out  of  range, 
and  at  eight  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  left  wing  went  to  work  on  entrench 
ments,  working  till  one  o'clock  A.  M.  The  right  wing  went  out 
later  and  worked  until  morning.  At  ten  o'clock,  p.  M.  there  was 


BRAGG    ON    RIFLE    PITS.  487 

heavy  skirmishing  and  cannonading  near  the  centre  of  the  line, 
lasting  about  two  hours.  Next  morning  the  brigade  was  moved 
back  on  to  a  hill,  in  preparation  for  a  permanent  camp,  and  a 
detail  was  sent  out  to  work  on  a  fort  being  erected  at  our  right, 
which  overlooked  the  river.  The  day  was  quiet  along  the  lines 
until  about  sundown,  when  cannonading  was  resumed  for  a  while, 
but  it  did  us  no  damage.  The  nights  were  now  growing  intensely 
cold.  Next  day  (Saturday)  was  spent  in  felling  trees  and  work 
ing  on  rifle  pits,  which  was  continued  till  late  at  night. 

On  the  27th,  just  one  week  after  the  fight,  we  began  to  make 
our  regular  camp  and  resume  something  like  regular  habits.  The 
mail  being  once  more  allowed  to  go  out,  lists  of  the  killed  and 
wounded  were  sent  north  for  publication,  and  for  the  first  time 
since  we  left  Bridgeport,  we  were  able  to  have  service.  A  large 
congregation  assembled,  and  the  Chaplain  preached.  About 
eleven  o'clock  P.  M.,  we  were  roused  by  a  fierce  attack  of  mus 
ketry  in  front,  and  the  regiment  went  into  the  rifle  pits,  remain 
ing  about  an  hour,  and  then  returned  to  camp. 

It  was  now  evident  that  Bragg  had  no  intention  of  driving  us 
from  Chattanooga  by  assaulting  our  lines,  but  had  determined  to 
compel  our  retreat  by  cutting  off  our  supplies.  The  bitter  lessons 
he  had  learned  at  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga,  about  assault 
ing  our  men  when  only  partially  entrenched,  were  not  lost  upon 
him.  After  the  last  battle  Gen.  Johnston  thus  accosted  him: 
"  Having  beaten  the  enemy,  why  didn't  you  pursue  the  advan 
tage?"  "Well,"  replied  Bragg,  "my  losses  were  heavy,  you 
see,  my  line  was  pretty  long,  and  by  the  time  I  could  get  under 
motion  the  Yankees  would  have  been  ten  feet  under  ground!" 

From  Van  Home's  history  we  now  learn  that  "Loiigstreet 
insisted  on  a  flank  movement  instead  of  a  siege.  He  suggested 
to  his  chief  to  cross  the  river  above  Chattanooga,  and  make  him- 


488  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

self  so  felt  in  the  rear  as  to  force  Rosecrans  to  evacuate  the  posi 
tion  and  fall  back  to  Nashville,  then,  if  not  able  to  continue  the 
northern  movement  from  inadequate  transportation,  to  follow  the 
railroad  to  Knoxville,  destroy  Burnside,  and  from  there  threaten 
Rosecrans'  communications  in  the  rear  of  Nashville.  Bragg, 
however,  did  not  deem  this  suggestion  feasible.  His  transpor 
tation  was  not  considered  adequate,  and  in  his  view  purely  mili 
tary  considerations  forbade  the  step.  He  thought  that  the  inter 
ruption  of  Rosecrans'  communications  with  Bridgeport,  south  of 
the  river,  promised  better  results,  and  he  disposed  his  army  to 
accomplish  this  object.  He  confided  the  holding  of  this  impor 
tant  route  to  Gen.  Longstreet,  and  threw  his  cavalry  across  the 
river  to  operate  against  the  transportation  of  supplies  by  wagons 
over  the  mountains  to  Bridgeport.  He  judged  wisely  that  his 
superiority  in  cavalry  and  the  length  and  condition  of  the  roads, 
rendered  wagon  transportation  a  precarious  means  of  supply  for 
the  army  shut  up  in  Chattanooga.  His  success  was  assured  if 
he  could  maintain  his  hold  upon  the  river  and  the  shorter  roads 
to  Bridgeport.  The  situation  of  the  beleaguered  army  was  crit 
ical  from  the  first,"  for  though  immediate  steps  were  taken  to 
transfer  two  corps  under  Gen.  Hooker  from  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  bring  assistance  from  Gens.  Hurlbut  arid  Sher 
man,  yet  "  the  movement  of  troops  from  points  so  remote,  gave 
no  promise  of  immediate  relief,  and  as  the  enemy  was  on  the 
direct  line  of  approach,  their  passage  from  Bridgeport  to  Chat 
tanooga  was  itself  an  intricate  problem."  The  maintenance  of 
our  position  against  such  fearful  odds,  the  ultimate  raising  of  the 
siege,  and  the  successful  defeat  of  the  investing  army,  will  ever 
furnish  one  of  the  most  thrilling  chapters  in  the  history  of  our 
war. 

On  Monday,  September  28th,  one  hundred  ambulances  were 
sent  out  to  the  battle-field  to  bring  in  our  wounded,  and  in  two 


CAPT.  HOBBS  OF  COMPANY  E.  489 

days  a  similar  train  went  on  the  same  errand.  At  the  picket 
line  our  drivers  were  compelled  to  give  way  to  Rebel  drivers, 
who  took  charge  of  the  ambulances  until  they  were  brought  back 
with  their  sad  loads.  The  tender  mercies  of  these  drivers  will 
be  perpetuated  in  the  narratives  of  some  of  our  men. 

Among  the  first  to  be  brought  in  was  Capt.  Hobbs,  of  Co.  E, 
reported  among  the  killed,  but  who  proved  to  have  been  wounded 
in  the  knee.  Capt.  Hobbs  had  been  identified  with  the  regiment 
from  the  first,  had  participated  in  all  its  marches  and  battles,  had 
everywhere  proved  himself  a  worthy  and  efficient  officer,  and 
was  highly  esteemed  by  both  officers  and  men  in  the  command. 
At  the  battle  of  Stone  River  he  was  wounded  in  the  breast 
captured,  and  shared  with  other  officers  in  the  five  months  cap 
tivity  and  wretchedness  in  Southern  prisons.  He  and  Lieut. 
Turnbull,  Company  C ,  were  selected  by  choice  of  their  com 
rades,  on  account  of  gallant  conduct  in  battle,  to  represent  the  reg 
iment  on  the  "roll  of  honor,"  which  was  made  up  by  order  of  Gen. 
Rosecrans.  After  his  arrival  in  Chattanooga,  he  remained  in  one  of 
our  hospitals  in  town,  receiving  every  attention  until  he  was  able 
to  be  moved,  when  he  was  sent  North.  The  situation  of  the  ball  in 
the  knee  was  such  that  it  was  not  safe  to  remove  it,  and  as  it 
would  not  hinder  his  walking  when  aided  by  a  cane,  it  was  con 
cluded  to  allow  it  to  remain.  It  brought,  however,  his  army  life 
to  a  close.  He  returned  to  Kendall  County,  where  the  people 
showed  their  appreciation  of  his  services  by  electing  him  Circuit 
Clerk,  an  office  which  he  retained  until  his  death.  In  time,  the 
presence  of  the  ball  in  his  knee  gave  him  much  trouble,  and 
seemed  to  threaten  his  life;  he  therefore  submitted  to  an  opera 
tion  for  its  removal,  which,  instead  of  benefiting  him,  hastened 
his  death,  which  took  place  a  few  days  later,  on  January  4th, 
1872,  over  eight  years  after  the  battle  in  which  he  was  wounded. 

32 


490  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

From  Capt.  Hobbs  we  learned  more  definitely  about  the  others 
whose  fate  was  uncertain.  His  2nd  Lieutenant,  Orison  Smith, 
was  found  to  be  dead.  He  was  a  gallant  soldier  and  a  true  man 
everywhere,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  felt.  All  suspense,  too,  was 
ended  about  the  fate  of  Capt.  Wakeman.  Some  had  assisted 
him  to  a  sheltered  spot  behind  a  tree,  after  he  was  wounded,  and 
we  hoped,  even  against  hope,  that  he  might  survive,  but  most 
probably  he  died  almost  at  once  after  our  line  retired.  "  Dad," 
as  he  was  familiarly  called  in  Company  A,  while  yet  in  a  subor 
dinate  position,  was  one  to  be  loved  by  those  who  knew  him. 
Beside  his  noble  qualities  as  a  soldier,  he  was  exceedingly  com 
panionable  as  a  man  ;  well  read,  of  fine  tastes  and  elevated  views, 
in  sympathy  with  all  that  was  pure  and  good.  He  had  a  special 
love  for  fine  scenery,  and  his  fellow  officers  call  to  mind  many  a 
pleasant  talk  they  had  over  their  pipes,  while  he  would  point  out 
whatever  was  attractive  in  the  scenery  or  the  occurrences  of  the 
day.  He  was  the  fast  friend  of  the  Chaplain,  and  sought  in 
every  way  to  advance  the  highest  interests  of  the  regiment. 

His  1st  Lieutenant,  Myron  A.  Smith,  reported  wounded,  was 
also  found  to  be  dead,  and  much  other  information  was  gained  in 
regard  to  those  who  had  been  left  on  the  field.  Those  who  were 
brought  into  our  lines  gave  sad  proof,  in  their  wretched  condi 
tion  and  haggard  looks,  of  the  rough  treatment  they  had  received. 
Some  of  them  had  had  nothing  to  eat  for  four  days.  Two  nar 
ratives,  which  have  been  secured,  may  stand  as  representative 
of  the  rest.  One  from  J.  L.  Drvden,  of  Company  C,  and  one 
from  P.  A.  Johnson,  of  Company  D. 

DRYDEN'S  NARRATIVE. 

The  first  Rebel  I  got  sight  of,  I  fired  at;  and  while  loading, 
a  buck  shot  struck  me  in  the  knuckles  of  the  left  hand,  caus 
ing  no  inconvenience,  however.  I  finished  loading  as  quickly 


j.  L.  DRYDEN'S  STORY.  491 

as  possible,  drew  up  and  fired  at  a  Rebel  who  was  capping  his 
gun.  The  instant  I  fired,  a  musket  ball  struck  me,  glancing 
across  the  upper  side  of  my  left  wrist  (which  was  then  turned 
under,  holding  the  gun  in  position  for  firing),  and  passing  through 
my  left  shoulder  and  top  of  left  lung,  caused  my  left  arm  to  drop 
as  if  struck  with  a  club,  turning  me  partly  around,  but  not  caus 
ing  me  to  lose  my  balance.  My  gun  fell  at  my  feet ;  I  saw  at  a 
glance  that  my  share  of  the  work  was  finished,  and  taking  a  fare 
well  look  of  my  faithful  Erifield,  I  started  for  the  rear.  I  walked 
perhaps  twenty  rods  before  I  fell,  exhausted  from  loss  of  blood. 
A  Sergeant  of  Company  H  passed  just  as  I  fell.  I  called  him. 
He  came,  and  with  his  knife  freed  me  of  my  knapsack,  cartridge 
box,  haversack  and  canteen.  He  lifted  me  up  and  we  managed 
to  walk  a  little  further  until  we  met  the  fifer  of  Company  G, 
Bennie  Sawin,  Lon  Hays  and  Daniel  Baldwin,  with  a  stretcher. 
I  was  placed  on  this  and  carried  to  a  little  cabin  where  I  remained 
until  an  ambulance  came  along,  when  I  was  conveyed  to  the 
hospital  at  Craw-Fish  Springs,  lifted  out,  and  laid  down  under 
an  oak  tree,  where  I  remained  until  Monday  night.  About  sun 
down  of  Sunday  evening  the  black -whiskered  surgeon  of  the  21st 
Michigan  came  along.  I  asked  him  to  do  something  for  me. 
He  replied  that  it  was  useless,  as  I  would  never  see  morning, 
and  with  this  morsel  of  cold  consolation,  passed  by  on  the  other 
side. 

I  have  no  distinct  recollection  of  anything  that  passed  from 
that  time  until  Monday  night.  1  was  then  carried  into  a  tent, 
stripped,  and  my  wounds  dressed  by  Federal  nurses  arid  surgeons. 
I  did  not  know  until  the  next  day  that  our  forces  were  defeated 
and  we  prisoners.  Tuesday  afternoon  the  rebel  cavalry  came 
flocking  in,  stealing  everything  they  could  find.  Fortunately,  1 
had  nothing  left  but  my  hat,  and  that  they  took,  and  would  have 
taken  my  pants  if  they  could  have  got  them  off.  For  nine  days 
I  lived  on  boiled  wheat,  and  but  little  of  that. 

On  Wednesday,  September  30th,  five  hundred  ambulances 
reached  us  with  crackers  and  coffee,  and  the  work  of  assorting 
and  paroling  commenced.  We  were  put  to  all  manner  of  tests 


492  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

to  discover  how  badly  we  were  injured.  The  surgeons,  nurses 
and  those  barely  able  to  care  for  themselves  were  sent,  God  knows 
where,  and  such  of  us  as  were  not  able  to  take  care  of  ourselves 
were  paroled  and  sent  back  to  Chattanooga.  This  was  my  good 
fortune ;  and  on  the  morning  of  October  1st  they  commenced 
piling  us  into  the  ambulances,  filling  them  as  full  as  they  could 
hold.  It  was  raining  hard — bitter,  bitter  cold  to  a  man  without 
clothes.  About  daylight  we  were  ready  for  the  road,  and  look 
ing  back,  I  could  see  the  long  line  of  my  poor,  starved,  crippled 
comrades  on  foot,  taking  up  their  line  of  march  for  the  nearest 
railroad  station,  and  thence  to  Southern  prison  pens.  It  was  the 
saddest  sight  I  ever  saw.  In  a  short  time  after  starting  we 
passed  through  the  fated  battle-field  of  ten  days  before,  and 
within  fifty  yards  of  where  we  formed  our  first  line.  I  did  not 
see  a  single  Rebel  unburied ;  neither  did  I  think  it  possible  that 
one  of  our  men  could  have  been  buried,  they  lay  so  thickly  on 
the  ground  and  so  closely  to  the  road  that  the  driver,  through 
carelessness  or  spite,  ran  our  ambulance  over  many  of  them.  It 
rained  hard  all  day.  Oh,  the  horrors  of  that  day's  ride !  Many 
of  the  streams  we  crossed  were  so  swollen  that  our  ambulance 
box  would  be  filled  with  water,  and  the  poor  boys  Avho  were  lying 
down  in  the  bottom  were  nearly  drowned  once  or  twice.  Our 
driver,  a  gruff,  sour,  old  Rebel,  wouldn't  hear  to  one  word  of 
complaint,  saying  "it  was  all  good  enough  for  d — d  Yankees." 
About  midnight  we  reached  Chattanooga  ;  were  carried  up  stairs 
in  a  large,  brick  building,  washed,  had  our  wounds  dressed,  and 
felt  satisfied  that  we  were  "just  inside  the  borders"  of  civiliza 
tion  once  more.  I  remained  in  Chattanooga  two  days  ;  crossed 
the  Tennessee  river  to  the  field  hospital,  two  miles  in  the  country, 
where  I  remained  two  weeks.  All  this  time  the  "  Cracker  Line" 
remained  closed,  and  our  rations  were  by  no  means  large  enough 
to  be  used  as  evidence  at  the  bur  of  "  conscience  "  in  making  out 
an  indictment  against  us  for  the  sin  of  "gluttony."  But  here — 
thanks  to  the  Northern  fingers  which  made  it,  and  blessings  on 
the  Sanitary  Commission  which  brought  it — I  once  more  reveled 
in  the  luxury  arid  gloried  in  the  possession  of  a  shirt,  having 


DRYDEN'S  STORY  CONTINUED.  493 

been  seventeen  days  without  hat,  coat,  shirt  or  socks ;  it  was  a 
blessing  not  lightly  to  be  esteemed — that  shirt  was. 

On  Wednesday,  the  21st  of  October,  we  started  with  a  large 
ambulance  train  for  Stevenson,  Alabama,  distant  thirty-five  or 
thirty-six  miles  by  the  river  road,  but  by  the  "pole  road,"  which 
we  were  obliged  to  take,  it  was  almost  one  hundred,  occupying 
five  days  and  nights,  and  those  were  days  and  nights  of  the  most 
fearful  and  most  causeless  suifering,  hardship  and  privation  that 
I  ever  endured  in  my  life.  The  train  was  placed  in  command  of 
an  old  German  surgeon — I  know  not  who  he  was,  where  he  came 
from,  or  where  he  has  gone  to,  arid  I  care  less.  His  first  care 
was  to  crawl  into  the  ambulance  containing  the  hospital  stores 
and  get  drunk,  and  he  remained  drunk  until  we  reached  Steven 
son.  The  train  started,  winding  its  way  up  miserable  little 
ravines  and  cracks,  on  the  east  side  of  Waldron's  Ridge,  which 
we  crossed  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day  after  starting.  There 
are  not  adjectives  enough  in  the  English  lauguage  to  express  the 
condition  of  that  road.  Rocks  about  the  size  of  a  sentry's  box, 
lying  right  across  the  road,  would  raise  the  front  end  of  the 
vehicle  up  straight,  then  the  hind  end,  causing  us  one  moment 
to  be  lying  full  length  on  the  bottom  of  the  ambulance,  and  the 
next  standing  on  our  head  in  the  corner.  Our  driver  was  a  jolly, 
good  fellow,  but  he  couldn't  help  the  jolting,  except  as  he  light 
ened  our  burdens  by  laughing  at  our  odd  predicament.  The 
third  day  we  crossed  Waldron's  Ridge,  and  started  down  the 
beautiful  Sequatchie  valley,  when  our  road  gradually  became 
better  as  we  neared  the  river.  During  the  whole  of  this  trip  I 
know  of  no  one  who  had  his  wounds  dressed  from  the  time  we 
started  until  we  reached  Stevenson.  We  were  almost  starved. 
There  was  provision  along,  but  our  head  being  muddled  with 
whisky,  there  was  no  one  to  issue  it;  the  strong  helped  them 
selves  and  the  weak  did  without.  At  night  the  driver  would 
gather  me  a  hatful  of  persimmons,  and  after  supper  I  would  lie 
down  under  the  ambulance  and  dream  of  the  "gal  I  left  behind 
me."  I  got  but  one  square  meal  in  the  whole  time,  and  I  got 
that  just  as  the  skunk  secures  many  privileges — by  my  smell. 


494  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

We  reached  Stevenson,  Alabama,  at  last,  starved,  wearied, 
jolted  arid  used  up  generally,  when  I  stretched  my  wearied  limbs 
upon  a  bona  fide  hospital  cot,  and  lay  and  wondered  whether  the 
whole  world,  inhabitants  and  all,  had  not  been  passing  through 
athe  mill  of  the  gods."  I  seemed  to  be  ground  down  exceed 
ingly  fine.  Here  Add.  found  me,  after  a  long,  dangerous  search, 
furnished  me  with  a  new  blouse  and  cap,  and  bound  my  feet  in 
slips  of  red  flannel,  in  lieu  of  socks.  After  many  more  ups  and 
downs  we  started  for  home,  and  on  the  22nd  day  of  November 
we  crossed  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  and  were  in  God's  country 
again.  J.  L.  DRYDEN, 

Company  C,  36th  Illinois  Volunteers  Infantry. 

JOHNSON'S  NARRATIVE. 

Sept.  20th,  1863,  I  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  like  a  great  many  others,  left  on  the  battle-field.  After 
we  broke  from  the  first  line  of  battle,  Gen.  Sheridan  ordered  us 
to  halt,  face  about,  make  another  charge  and  drive  the  Rebs  back. 
While  making  this  charge,  I  was  somehow  a  little  in  advance.  I 
kept  right  on,  and  the  first  thing  I  knew,  all  our  forces  were  gone 
and  T  was  alone.  I  started  back,  when  I  was  wounded  in  the 
leg.  The  Rebs  came  right  on,  and  as  soon  as  they  came  up  to 
me,  one  asked  if  our  men  were  in  full  retreat ;  to  which  I  replied, 
"  Well,  I  guess  they  are  going  back  rather  lively."  "  Have  you 
any  cartridges  '.'"  was  his  next  question.  "A  few,"  said  I.  "Well, 
let's  have  them,"  said  he.  So  I  pulled  off  my  cartridge-box  and 
gave  it  to  him,  and  while  so  doing,  some  other  Reb  stole  my  rub 
ber  blanket.  By  this  time,  the  main  line  came  up  and  all  pushed 
on,  so  I  turned  my  attention  to  my  wound,  I  began  to  think  I 
was  going  to  bleed  to  death,  so  I  tied  a  little  bag,  about  the  size 
of  a  common  pillow  case,  around  it,  and  poured  some  water  on  it. 
As  soon  as  the  water  struck  the  wound  I  fainted.  A  couple  of 
straggling  Rebs  happened  to  be  near  by,  saw  me  faint  and  instantly 
came  and  rubbed  my  forehead  with  water  and  brought  me  to. 
Soon  the  Rebels  retreated  and  stragglers  began  to  come  on  to  the 
field,  among  them  our  drummer,  Billy  Burgess.  As  soon  as  he 
saw  me,  he  said,  "Hallo,  Pete,  are  you  badly  wounded?"  "  I 


CAMPBELL'S  LETTER  TO  MILLER.  495 

do  not  know,"  said  I.  "I  will  go  and  get  an  ambulance,"  said 
he,  "and  take  you  to  the  hospital."  So  off  he  started,  in  his 
shirt  sleeves,  and  that  was  the  last  I  ever  heard  of  him.  We 
gathered  ourselves  together  in  a  little  group  beside  the  road  and 
did  what  we  could  for  one  another.  Among  us  were  Will  Gif- 
ford,  Company  D,  36th,  James  H.  Hall,  Company  F,  36th,  and 
a  great  many  from  other  regiments.  It  was  here  I  witnessed  the 
death  of  J.  H.  Hall,  Company  F,  36th,  Sept.  22nd.  He  gave 
me  some  silver  money,  his  pipe  and  pocket  knife,  to  send  to  his 
folks  at  Newark,  Illinois,  when  I  should  get  through  the  lines, 
which  I  sent  to  the  Captain  of  Company  F,  as  soon  as  I  reached 
Chattanooga.  We  all  lay  on  this  battle-field  from  the  20th  to 
the  27th  of  September.  After  we  were  taken  to  the  hospital 
and  everything  arranged  for  being  paroled,  we  were  about  to  sign 
the  documents,  when  the  Rebel  officer  having  charge  said  to  our 
doctor :  "  Doctor,  I  would  like  to  have  all  your  men  sign  this 
parole,  if  they  can."  To  which  the  Doctor  replied,  "  I  want 
you  to  understand  we  have  a  class  of  men  who  are  able  to  sign 
their  own  names."  The  Rebel  officer  replied,  sharply,  "  None 
of  your  slurs." 

A  letter  received  by  Col.  Miller  from  Capt.  B.  F.  Campbell, 
soon  after  this  time,  gives  his  experience : 

FRIEND  SILAS  : — You  are  no  doubt  aware  of  my  misfortune 
in  being  wounded  and  captured  by  a  force  of  the  enemy,  which 
moved  in  round  the  left  flank  of  our  regiment  on  the  20th  of 
September.  That  part  of  the  line  giving  way  before  the  advanc 
ing  foe,  exposed  the  left  wing  of  the  old  36th  to  a  galling  and 
destructive  cross-fire,  with  a  prospect  of  being  bagged,  as  the 
force  on  our  left  could  not  be  rallied  to  our  support.  Still,  our 
brave  boys  worked  on,  never  flinching,  until  the  order  sounded 
along  the  line  to  fall  back  and  take  another  position,  which  was 
done.  I  rallied  my  men  about  twenty  yards  in  rear  of  the  line 
from  which  we  had  just  retired,  and  again  moved  forward.  When 
near  where  the  first  line  was,  I  was  sent  sprawling  to  Mother 
Earth,  almost  helpless,  from  the  effects  of  a  shot  in  the  right 
breast,  operating  severely  on  my  ribs,  at  the  same  time  causing 


496  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

me  to  spit  blood  quite  freely.  In  this  plight  I  was  soon  sur 
rounded  by  the  enemy  and  called  on  for  my  implements  of  war 
fare  by  a  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  a  Georgia  regiment,  who  coolly  told 
me  to  go  to  the  rear,  which  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  do  then, 
being  very  weak.  After  recovering  myself  slightly,  I  with  much 
difficulty  rose  to  my  feet,  and  was  escorted  to  the  rear  with  others, 
by  the  post  guard.  I  arrived  in  Richmond,  September  30th,  and 
was  put  in  Libby  Prison.  There  are  now  eight  hundred  and 
twenty-five  Federal  officers  confined  here,  awaiting  exchange. 
We  occupy  six  rooms,  with  privilege  to  visit  any  of  those  rooms 
at  will.  The  old  hospital  room  of  this  building  has  been  fitted 
up  for  a  dining  hall,  and  we  do  our  own  cooking  in  the  basement 
— quite  an  improvement  on  the  former  style.  In  addition  to  this, 
we  are  permitted  to  send  outside  the  prison  and  purchase  many 
things  we  need,  at  rates  that  will  make  bankrupts  of  us  all,  if 
not  soon  exchanged. 

My  wound  is  doing  well ;  hope  to  be  with  you  soon.  Do  not 
fail  to  write  me.  My  regards  to  all  the  boys. 

When  the  wounded  were  brought  into  our  lines,  we  were  already 
beginning  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  siege,  in  the  shortened  rations 
that  were  issued,  and  even  the  hospitals  found  difficulty  in  obtain 
ing  a  full  supply.  But  Steward  J.  C.  Denison,  who  had  charge 
of  the  supplies  for  the  field  hospital,  went  direct  to  Gen.  Sheri 
dan  and  represented  the  destitute  condition  of  the  wounded  com 
ing  in,  and  he  promptly  ordered  full  rations;  saying,  "  We  must 
take  care  of  our  poor  wounded  men." 

In  pursuance  of  his  general  plan,  Bragg  soon  began  to  make 
demonstrations  against  our  communications,  to  embarrass  us  in 
our  really  vulnerable  point — our  supplies.  On  the  1st  of  Oct., 
Wheeler  crossed  the  river  with  a  large  force  of  cavalry,  and 
before  our  troops  could  overtake  him,  he  attacked  and  partially 
destroyed  a  large  wagon  train  loaded  with  supplies,  near  Ander 
son's  cross  roads.  Our  cavalry  immediately  pursued,  but  the 


DESTRUCTION    OF    SUPPLIES.  497 

enemy  having  the  start,  and  heavy  rain  falling  continually,  they 
were  much  hindered.  On  coming  near  Anderson's,  they  saw  the 
smoke  of  the  burning  wagons,  and  hurrying  forward,  drove  a  por 
tion  of  the  enemy's  force  past  the  fire,  upon  the  main  body,  which 
was  in  line  of  battle  about  a  mile  off.  Several  attacks  were  made 
with  continued  success  and  the  enemy  was  pursued  across  the 
Sequatchie  Valley.  Eight  hundred  mules  were  recaptured  and 
some  of  the  wagons  saved,  but  three  hundred  were  burned.  Quite 
a  number  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  wounded  and  captured. 
Another  detachment  of  Wheeler's  command  had  been  sent  to 
McMinnville.  This  also  was  pursued,  but  not  in  time  to  save 
the  stores  and  garrison.  A  similar  movement  against  Murfrees- 
boro  was  headed  off,  and  Wheeler,  after  several  defeats,  was  com 
pelled  to  make  his  way  across  the  Tennessee  River,  while  other 
forces,  designed  to  co-operate  with  him,  had  to  retreat.  Upon 
the  whole,  while  the  loss  of  the  train  was  a  great  one,  the  expe- 
pition  proved  very  disastrous  to  Wheeler,  and  did  not  accomplish 
anything  like  what  was  expected  of  it.  His  loss  was  computed 
at  two  thousand  men  and  six  pieces  of  artillery. 

The  first  news  of  the  burning  of  our  train  created  a  great 
excitement  in  Chattanooga,  for  it  was  felt  that  we  could  resist  the 
enemy  in  front  better  than  spare  our  supplies.  But  a  worse 
enemy  than  Wheeler  was  beginning  to  work  against  us,  and  "the 
situation  of  our  army  was  becoming  exceedingly  critical.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  occupation,  there  were  large  trains  in  good 
condition,  and  the  prospect  of  transporting  supplies  was  some 
what  promising.  But  early  in  October  the  rain  began  to  fall," 
and  the  rains  of  that  mountain  region  are  something  to  remem 
ber.  It  seemed  as  though  the  very  heavens  had  turned  to  water, 
which  poured  down  incessantly,  sometimes  for  three  and  four  days 
and  nights,  until  everything  was  soaked  through  and  through. 


498  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

The  roads  became  almost  impassable.  The  sixty  miles  between 
Chattanooga  and  Bridgeport  required  a  longer  time  with  every 
trip,  and  the  animals  grew  more  and  more  exhausted  with  inces 
sant  labor  and  lack  of  forage.  As  the  number  of  wagons  grew 
less  and  the  weight  of  supplies  they  could  bring  was  diminished, 
the  rations  served  out  to  the  men  were  steadily  reduced.  The 
possibility  of  being  starved  out  of  our  position  stared  us  in  the 
face.  All  along  our  front,  extending  from  Lookout  across  the 
valley  of  Chattanooga  and  all  along  Missionary  Ridge  lay  the 
Southern  army,  their  flags  flying,  their  tents  in  full  sight,  and 
every  little  while  their  heavy  guns  on  the  mountain- top  belching 
forth  defiance,  only  waiting  until  we  should  commence  our  retreat, 
when  they  would  fall  upon  our  flanks  and  rear  and  make  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  one  of  the  things  of  the  past.  With 
them  and  with  President  Davis,  as  he  looked  down  upon  us  from 
the  mountain  height,  our  ruin  and  the  consequent  recognition  of 
the  South  was  only  a  question  of  time. 

But  not  so  thought  we,  and  as  the  situation  grew  more  desper 
ate  the  spirit  of  our  army  seemed  to  rise  in  stern  and  unquench 
able  determination  to  hold  Chattanooga  or  die.  Many  were  the 
jokes  about  the  possibilities  in  store  for  us;  headquarters  and 
the  hospital  department  had  many  a  pleasantry  about  our  six 
mule  team,  one  of  the  sleekest  and  most  attractive  in  the  army, 
of  which  George  took  almost  idolatrous  care,  as  we  prophesied 
the  day  when  we  should  be  taking  our  daily  rations  from  their 
tempting  flanks.  The  keenest  minds  were  quickened  to  find 
some  solution  of  this  stern  problem,  which  should  save  both  the 
army  and  Chattanooga,  and  in  due  time  it  was  found.  Before 
we  narrate  the  circumstances  of  our  relief,  a  number  of  incidents 
occurring  at  that  time  should  find  record. 

Too  much  cannot  be  said  of  the  benefit  we  derived  from  the 
coming  of  our  mail.  Next  to  his  rations,  the  soldier  always 


TRIBUTE   TO    FRANK   W.    RAYMOND.  499 

valued  his  letters,  and  that  value  was  very  much  increased  during 
the  dreary  time  of  the  siege.  At  first,  communication  was  stopped 
by  the  General,  but  after  it  was  once  resumed  there  was  no  further 
interruption,  but  through  all  the  rain,  mud  and  risk  came  our 
letters  and  papers.  With  the  36th  this  meant  a  good  deal,  for 
the  regiment  stood  alone  for  the  amount  of  reading  matter  which 
it  provided  through  the  mails  in  addition  to  our  library.  Twelve 
copies  of  the  four  monthlies,  twenty  copies  each  of  several 
weeklies,  beside  all  the  religious  reading,  swelled  the  mail  matter 
largely,  so  that  after  the  blockade  was  partially  raised  the  Chap- 
received  at  one  time  a  bushel  of  magazines  and  papers.  When 
our  library  came  up,  which  it  did  about  the  same  time,  the  moral 
effect  on  the  men  was  most  happy. 

No  record  of  the  regiment  would  be  complete  which  should 
omit  to  make  special  mention  of  this  peculiarity,  or  should  fail 
to  notice  the  untiring  efforts  and  marked  skill  which  characterized 
our  brigade  mail  carrier,  Frank  W.  Raymond,  of  Company  A. 
Frank  was  a  universal  favorite,  and  was  emphatically  the  right 
man  in  the  right  place.  He  knew  every  man,  and  the  sight  of 
his  cheery  face,  the  sound  of  his  familiar  voice,  especially  when 
he  had  a  letter,  was  often  better  than  medicine  for  a  sick  man, 
and  he  says,  "  If  their  friends  could  have  seen  their  disappointed 
faces  when  I  told  them  I  had  no  letter  for  them,  they  would  have 
been  more  frequent  in  writing." 

While  the  regiment  was  at  Rienzi  he  made  the  trip  to  Corinth 
and  back  (fifteen  miles)  every  day.  After  the  Perryville  cam 
paign  began,  he  followed  with  the  mail,  traveling  as  far  as  his 
horse  would  carry  him,  camping  either  by  the  roadside  or  in  the 
house  or  barn  of  some  citizen  at  night,  until  we  reached  Bowling 
Green.  When  the  railroad  was  repaired  he  took  it  from  our 
base  of  supplies,  wherever  that  might  be.  During  the  Tullo- 


500  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

homa  campaign  he  encountered  all  the  perils  of  that  wet  and 
muddy  time,  swimming  Elk  River  when  it  was  very  much  swollen, 
with  his  horse  "Old  Gabe,"  in  the  presence  of  a  brigade  of  cav 
alry,  who  expected  to  see  him  carried  away  by  the  current  and 
drowned.  As  he  came  out  on  the  south  bank,  a  Major,  one  of 
Gen.  Rosecrans'  aids,  on  his  way  to  Tullohoma  with  despatches, 
came  to  him  and  said,  "Young  man,  I  will  give  you  ten  dollars 
if  you  will  swim  my  horse  across."  Frank  replied,  "No,  Major, 
not  if  you  give  me  your  commission."  When  Gen.  Sheridan 
heard  that  the  mail  carrier  of  the  First  Brigade  had  reached 
camp,  he  sent  for  him,  questioned  him  at  some  length  in  regard 
to  his  trip,  and  then  wrote  him  a  very  complimentary  letter. 

Early  in  October,  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  reorgan 
ized  by  the  consolidation  of  the  20th  and  21st  Corps  into  what 
was  now  called  the  4th  Corps,  and  the  reserve  corps  was  incor 
porated  with  the  14th.  Each  corps  included  three  divisions, 
and  each  division  three  brigades.  The  4th  Corps  was  placed 
under  command  of  Maj.  Gen.  Gordon  Granger,  with  Generals 
Palmer,  Sheridan  and  Wood,  commanding  respectively  the  1st, 
2nd  and  3rd  Divisions.  About  the  same  time,  Gen.  Hooker, 
with  the  llth  and  12th  Corps,  took  position  on  the  Nashville  & 
Chattanooga  Railroad,  and  disposing  his  troops  from  Nashville 
to  Bridgeport,  gave  security  to  our  communications.  The  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  thus  comprised  four  corps,  with  three  divisions  of 
cavalry.  The  36th  was  attached  to  the  1st  Brigade,  2nd  Division, 
(Sheridan's)  4th  Corps.  These  changes  necessitated  a  change  of 
camp,  we  being  moved  over  toward  the  left,  and  a  portion  of  the 
14th  Corps  taking  our  place.  Our  former  camp  had  its  disad 
vantages,  for  in  heavy  rains  the  water  poured  in  streams  down  the 
hillside,  and  was  with  great  difficulty  kept  out  of  the  tents.  But 
in  our  new  location,  we  had  peculiar  annoyances,  for  the  ground 


CHANGE    OP    CAMP.  501 

being  very  low  and  flat  there  was  not  only  no  opportunity  for 
drainage,  but  it  was  at  night  and  morning  enveloped  in  thick  fog, 
and  justified  the  strong  expression  of  Major  Sherman  as  we  took 
possession  of  our  new  quarters,  "Here,  gentlemen,  is  where  you 
can  get  your  ague  in  solid  chunks."  It  was  only  by  cutting  deep 
ditches  through  the  ground  that  we  could  keep  the  camp  in  toler 
able  condition,  while  again  and  again  the  heavy  rains  poured 
down,  finding  every  hole  in  our  tents,  compelling  us  to  select  a 
seat  somewhere  between  the  leaks,  soaking  our  clothing  and  even 
our  books  and  papers,  as  the  marks  on  many  a  man's  diary  and 
letters  sent  home  now  bear  witness.  The  weather,  too,  was  fast 
becoming  extremely  cold,  and  the  thin,  worn  clothing  of  the  men 
was  but  slender  protection  from  the  piercing  wind. 

Necessity  quickens  though,  and  the  dilapidated  ruins  of  former 
mansions  soon  found  their  way  to  camp,  and  with  mud  for  mor 
tar,  camp  chimneys  began  to  go  up  in  all  directions.  It  was  not 
every  man  who  knew  the  secret  of  constructing  a  chimney  so  it 
would  not  smoke,  and  bitter  were  the  experiences  of  some  who, 
after  wearisome  toil,  succeeded  in  finishing  their  task,  only  to 
find  that  as  soon  as  the  fire  was  built  all  the  smoke  poured  out 
into  the  tent ;  only  by  lying  down  and  breathing  the  lowest  stra 
tum  of  air  could  they  stay  in  the  tent,  however  stormy  it  might 
be  outside.  Great  was  the  rejoicing  when,  after  many  failures, 
their  efforts  were  crowned  with  success  and  the  draught  was  all 
right ;  then  the  tent  was  cosy  indeed. 

Our  new  position  was  a  little  south  of  the  Western  &  Atlantic 
Railroad,  not  far  from  the  point  where  the  track  turns  to  the 
north,  and  so  we  were  almost  directly  opposite  Gen.  Bragg's 
headquarters  on  Mission  Ridge.  The  Rebel  camps  were  in  plain 
sight,  and  their  flag  at  headquarters  and  on  the  top  of  Lookout 
waved  defiance  day  by  day.  Beyond  this,  and  their  watch  over 


502  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

us,  they  did  but  little  harm,  much  less  than  they  might  have  done 
if  they  had  tried.  The  second  Sunday  of  our  occupation,  while 
we  were  still  on  the  right,  and  the  regiment  was  on  picket  near 
the  foundry,  the  Chaplain  went  out  to  hold  service.  During 
the  afternoon  the  attention  of  all  was  attracted  to  movements  on 
the  mountain  side,  the  nature  of  which  it  was  difficult  to  deter 
mine,  as  they  were  much  concealed  behind  the  trees.  Our  sus 
picions,  however,  were  soon  confirmed  by  the  construction  of  an 
earth-work  and  the  mounting  of  guns.  Next  day  they  opened 
upon  our  line  with  shot  and  shell.  One  rifled  shell  fell  in  Com 
pany  E,  and  sliding  along  the  ground  struck  Henry  Haigh,  tak 
ing  the  skin  off  the  hip,  but  as  it  fortunately  did  not  explode,  no 
further  harm  was  done.  Very  soon  heavy  guns  were  mounted  on 
Lookout,  from  which  shell  were  occasionally  thrown  even  into 
town,  and  sometimes  to  Brigade  Headquarters  in  our  new  posi 
tion  at  the  left,  but  we  soon  became  perfectly  indifferent  to  the 
whole  performance,  except  as  it  afforded  material  for  conversation 
or  jests  from  day  to  day.  We  were  able  to  return  these  compli 
ments  in  kind,  and  sometimes  with  marked  effect. 

It  seemed  at  first  as  though  Rosecrans  had  made  a  great  mis 
take  in  giving  Lookout  Mountain  to  the  enemy,  but  it  was  soon 
found  that  the  fort  erected  on  Moccasin  Point  went  far  to  neutral 
ize  the  advantage,  for  it  was  perfectly  easy  to  shell  the  base  of 
the  mountain  and  even  the  top  when  necessary,  while  the  fort 
itself  was  strongly  protected  on  both  flanks  by  the  river.  The 
sharp,  shrill  voice  of  Moccasin,  as  she  took  care  of  our  right 
flank,  became  one  of  the  recognized  institutions.  Fort  Wood, 
too,  on  our  left  and  rear,  in  our  second  position,  could  easily 
reach  the  side  and  top  of  Missionary  Ridge,  and  many  a  wagon 
train  or  detachment  of  men  was  glad  to  quicken  its  steps  as 
Fort  Wood  planted  a  shell  near  its  track.  Indeed,  Bragg  evi- 


FAMILIARITY    OF   THE   TWO    ARMIES.  503 

dently  thought  that  time,  rain  and  mud  would  accomplish  his 
purpose,  and  that  he  need  not  waste  his  ammunition  upon  us, 
but  no  hawk  ever  watched  a  feeble  bird  with  keener  glance  than 
he  watched  the  army  which  he  counted  as  his  lawful  prey.  At 
the  time  the  army  was  re-organized,  when  all  the  camps  were  in 
confusion,  regiments,  brigades  and  divisions  changing  places, 
he  thought  his  hour  had  come,  and  we  were  certainly  preparing 
to  evacuate,  for  he  kept  his  troops  ready  all  day  to  march  at  a 
moment's  notice.  Besides  the  singularity  of  two  hostile  armies 
thus  watching  and  operating  in  plain  sight  of  each  other,  the 
nearness  and  familiarity  of  the  two  forces  was  something  remark 
able.  The  camps  were  so  near  that  when  one  night  the  Colonel 
and  the  Chaplain  had  walked  out  to  the  picket  line  at  the  time 
of  tattoo,  the  sounds  of  fifes  and  drums  from  both  armies  were  so 
intermingled  that  it  was  difficult,  even  when  they  attempted  it,  to 
tell  them  apart.  The  pickets,  too,  held  conversations,  exchanged 
papers  and  scraps  of  news,  and  as  B.  F.  Taylor  says,  "  An  exam 
ination  of  many  a  plug  of  the  Indian  weed  in  a  picket's  pocket 
would  show  the  print  of  a  Rebel's  teeth  at  one  end  and  a  Yan 
kee's  at  the  other."  "  An  officer  belonging  to  a  regiment  in  the 
front  came  across  the  neutral  ground,  and  while  standing  with 
our  picket  until  he  could  be  brought  in,  actually  heard  them  call- 
the  roll  of  his  company,  and  when  his  name  was  reached,  cried 
out,  'Here!' ' 

During  all  this  time  of  fortifying,  watching  and  waiting  ;  these 
days  of  storm  and  rain  and  mud  and  ever  shortening  rations,  our 
religious  meetings  were  well  attended,  sometimes  when  it  was 
scarcely  to  be  expected.  One  week  from  the  battle,  Sunday,  we 
held  our  first  service  on  the  hillside  to  the  right,  and  though  the 
men  had  been  working  day  and  night  during  the  week,  there  was 
a  large  turnout  from  both  the  regiment  and  the  brigade.  Our 


504  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

evening  meetings  were  also  resumed,  and  continued  as  long  as 
the  weather  would  permit.  On  the  following  Sabbath,  Oct.  4th, 
the  regiment  being  on  picket,  the  service  was  held  near  the  Foun 
dry,  where  the  enemy's  line  was  within  hearing  distance.  From 
that  time  one  or  two  services  were  held  every  Sabbath  when  prac 
ticable,  after  which,  the  Chaplain  visited  one  or  more  wards  in 
the  hospital,  preaching  a  short  discourse  in  each  ward.  Our  sup 
ply  of  reading  matter  enabled  him  to  distribute  a  great  many 
papers,  &c.,  among  the  wounded  men,  which  were  most  eagerly 
received  and  read.  So  little  had  many  of  the  poor  fellows 
enjoyed  of  such  things,  that  they  looked  with  wonder  upon  our 
excellent  advantages  in  the  way  of  reading.  The  field  hospital 
across  the  river  also  was  visited  regularly,  and  reading  matter 
distributed.  If  it  was  something  never  to  be  forgotten  to  notice 
the  silent,  patient  determination  with  which  the  men  in  the  ranks 
met  the  hardships  of  their  lot,  still  more  to  be  remembered  is  the 
quiet  uncomplaining  spirit  of  the  sufferers  in  the  hospitals,  by 
whom  the  smallest  kindness  was  esteemed  a  favor ;  who  received 
a  cup  of  water,  a  paper  or  magazine,  a  short  prayer  or  an  address 
with  a  tender  gratitude  which  would  bring  tears  to  the  eyes  that 
looked  on  it. 

The  changes  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  proved  to  be  but 
the  precursors  of  still  wider  changes  throughout  the  West.  The 
departments  of  the  Cumberland,  the  Ohio  and  the  Tennessee  had 
been  hitherto  independent  of  each  other,  and  though  attempting 
some  sort  of  co-operation,  had  signally  failed  in  aiding  each  other. 
This  failure  had  proved  very  disastrous  to  us,  when  Buckner  had 
re-inforced  Bragg  with  15,000  men,  just  before  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  while  Burnside  was  not  able  to  come  to  our  help. 
Now  that  the  enemy  had  concentrated  his  forces  against  Chatta 
nooga,  and  had  drawn  upon  the  whole  Southern  Confederacy  for 


NEW   COMPLICATIONS   IN   THE  COMMAND.  505 

troops,  it  became  imperatively  necessary  to  unify  our  strength 
and  bring  all  our  scattered  forces  under  one  control  The  coming 
of  Hooker  added  new  complications,  for  there  were  now  two  gen 
erals  who  had  commanded  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  it  was 
difficult  to  reconcile  questions  of  rank.  The  Department  at 
Washington  found  a  happy  solution  for  all  difficulties  by  creating 
the  "  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,"  and  placing  Gen. 
Grant  in  command.  The  same  order  (dated  Oct.  18th)  desig 
nated  Gen.  Thomas  to  command  the  "  Army  of  the  Cumberland," 
which  now  included  Hooker's  two  corps,  in  place  of  Gen.  Rose- 
crans.  Probably  the  Government  had  various  reasons  for  the 
change,  but  it  was  certain  that  the  tone  of  Gen.  Rosecrans' 
despatches  had  caused  a  fear  that  he  might  evacuate  Chattanooga, 
although  he  had  no  intention  of  doing  so,  except  in  the  case  of 
absolute  necessity,  and  on  the  day  of  his  removal  he  was  engaged 
in  maturing  the  very  plans  which  under  Grant,  ten  days  after 
ward  were  the  means  of  opening  the  river  and  the  direct  road  to 
Bridgeport.  The  Army  was  sorry  to  part  with  Rosecrans,  but 
they  could  appreciate  the  situation  and  had  every  confidence  in 
Thomas,  who,  they  knew,  was  only  prevented  by  his  modesty 
from  accepting  the  command  of  that  army  at  Louisville,  a  year 
before,  and  who  had  actually  saved  it  by  his  coolness,  determina 
tion  and  skill  after  the  almost  fatal  break  on  the  20th  of  Sep 
tember. 

Gen.  Grant's  first  telegram  on  assuming  his  new  command,  and 
Gen.  Thomas'  pnswer,  indicate  the  spirit  which  was  to  character 
ize  the  new  administration.  "  Hold  Chattanooga  at  all  hazards," 
was  the  order.  "We  will  hold  Chattanooga  until  we  starve," 
was  the  reply. 

Before  Gen.  Grant  reached  Chattanooga,  on  the  23d,  prepara 
tions  had  been  well  forwarded  for  opening  the  river,  and  after  he 

33 


506  .THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

had  given  the  plan  a  careful  investigation  and  approval,  it  was 
carried  out  with  complete  success.  Although  the  36th  bore  no 
part  in  the  execution,  yet  the  movement  itself  was  of  such  vital 
importance  that  some  account  of  it  ought  to  be  given. 

The  Tennessee  River  makes  a  very  circuitous  course  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Chattanooga,  of  which  most  excellent  advantage 
was  taken.  Winding  to  the  west  of  the  town  in  the  shape  of  a 
half  circle,  it  flows  in  a  south-easterly  direction,  until  it  is  arrested 
at  the  foot  of  Lookout  and  forced  by  rocky  barriers  to  turn  and 
flow  north-west,  then  north,  until  opposite  the  town  it  again  turns 
permanently  north-west.  By  this  strange  course  a  tongue  of 
land  is  cut  out,  which,  when  looked  down  upon  from  the  top  of 
Lookout,  presents  the  appearance  of  the  moccasined  foot  of  an 
Indian,  and  is  therefore  called  Moccasin  Point.  On  the  shore 
across  the  narrowest  part  of  this  foot,  which  is  south-west  .from 
town,  is  Brown's  Ferry,  opening  up  to  Lookout  Valley,  through 
which  the  railroad  and  wagon  road  to  Bridgeport  passes.  This 
ferry  is  only  about  four  miles  from  Chattanooga,  while  round  by 
the  river  it  is  nine  miles. 

The  plan  proposed  was  for  Hooker  to  advance  up  the  valley 
from  Bridgeport  until  he  could  hold  the  roads  connecting  Brown's 
Ferry  with  Kelley's  several  miles  below,  and  by  a  force  from 
Chattanooga  co-operating  at  Brown's  we  should  take  possession 
both  of  the  shortest  route  to  Bridgeport  and  up  the  river  far 
enough  to  allow  boats  to  come  up  to  Kelley's,  since  Brown's 
Ferry  was  within  range  of  the  guns  on  Lookout.  A  steamboat 
at  Bridgeport  and  another  taken  by  us  at  Chattanooga  were  fitted 
in  readiness  for  use.  One  of  Gen.  Thomas'  first  orders  after 
assuming  command  was  to  Gen.  Hooker  to  prepare  his  troops  for 
that  expedition,  partially  matured  by  Rosecrans.  After  Gen. 
Grant  had  given  his  approval,  and  everything  was  ready,  Hooker 


BROWN'S    FERRY    MOVEMENT.  507 

designated  October  27th  to  commence  his  march,  and  the  night 
of  the  26th  was  fixed  for  the  Brown's  Ferry  movement. 

This  was  really  one  of  the  most  delicately  constructed  and 
skillfully  executed  movements  of  the  war.  Pontoons  had  been 
prepared  at  North  Chickamauga  Creek,  and  brought  by  a  circuit 
ous  route  behind  the  hills  to  their  starting  point  at  Chattanooga. 
These  were  to  convey  1,500  picked  men  under  Gen.  Hazen  down 
the  river,  passing  the  enemy's  pickets  stationed  for  seven  miles 
along  the  left  bank,  and  then  effect  a  landing  at  Brown's,  while 
the  remainder  of  Hazen's  Brigade,  Gen.  Turchin's  Brigade  and 
three  batteries  of  artillery,  were  to  take  position  above  the  ferry, 
ready  to  cover  the  landing  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  cross  in 
support  as  quickly  as  possible.  Chaplain  Van  Home,  in  "Army 
of  the  Cumberland,"  thus  graphically  describes  the  scene: 

The  boats  moved  from  Chattanooga  at  three  o'clock  A.  M.  on 
the  27th.  A  slight  fog  veiled  the  moon,  and  the  boats,  directed 
by  Col.  T.  R.  Stanley,  glided  noiselessly  with  the  current.  Hug-  • 
ging  closely  the  right  bank,  they  rounded  Moccasin  Point  and 
moved  unperceived  to  the  place  of  landing.  The  boats  had  been 
called  off  into  sections  before  starting,  and  each  section  was  placed 
under  an  officer,  who  knew  beforehand  his  exact  place  of  land 
ing.  As  the  foremost  section  neared  the  shore  at  its  appointed 
place  at  early  dawn,  the  surprised  pickets  fired  a  harmless  volley 
and  fled.  In  quick  succession  the  several  sections  landed;  the 
men  leaped  upon  the  bank,  and  ascended  the  adjacent  hill  to  meet 
and  drive  back  a  small  force  that  had  hurried  forward  in  response 
to  the  warning  volley.  There  was  a  sharp  engagement  for  a 
moment,  then  all  was  quiet.  The  boats  first  brought  over  the 
remainder  of  Hazen's  troops,  and  soon  after  Turchin's  Brigade. 
Hazen  took  firm  hold  of  the  hill  above  the  gorge  through  which 
the  Bridgeport  road  passes  to  the  ferry,  and  Turchin  the  one 
below  it.  As  soon  as  skirmishers  could  be  thrown  sufficiently 
forward  to  prevent  a  surprise,  detachments  with  axes  went  vigor 
ously  to  work  felling  trees  and  constructing  barricades  and  abatis. 


508  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

In  two  hours  the  defenses  were  such  as  to  bid  defiance  to  the 
enemy.  This  accomplished,  the  pontoon  bridge  was  speedily 
thrown  under  the  skillful  supervision  of  Capt.  P.  V.  Fox,  First 
Michigan  Engineers.  Although  the  force  engaged  was  exposed 
to  a  vigorous  cannonading  by  the  enemy's  batteries  on  the  front 
of  Lookout  Mountain,  Gen.  Smith's  loss  was  six  killed,  twenty- 
three  wounded  and  nine  missing.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was 
probably  not  less,  as  six  of  their  dead  were  left  on  the  field  and 
six  prisoners  captured.  Twenty  beeves  and  two  thousand  bushels 
of  corn  were  added  to  the  slender  rations  of  the  troops.  These 
supplies,  of  hardly  appreciable  value  to  a  large  army  under 
ordinary  circumstances,  were  of  very  considerable  moment  at  a 
time  when  soldiers  gladly  gathered  the  fragments  of  crackers  and 
grain  which  fell  to  the  ground  in  transfer. 

This  was  a  surprise  to  both  armies,  so  secretly  had  every 
thing  been  executed.  To  Bragg  it  was  a  great  mortification,  and 
it  is  only  the  more  astonishing  that  he  did  not  perceive  the  drift 
of  it  and  prevent  its  entire  success  by  defeating  Hooker.  The 
latter  met  no  opposition  until  reaching  Wauhatchie,  when  a  faint 
demonstration  was  made  against  him  and  the  force  was  shelled 
from  the  Mountain,  but  his  advance  went  into  camp  one  mile 
from  Brown's  Ferry,  at  five  o'clock.  On  the  night  of  the  28th,  a 
sudden  attack  was  made  upon  these  troops,  which,  after  a  fierce 
struggle  and  one  bayonet  charge,  was  successfully  repulsed,  and 
our  troops  were  in  possession  of  the  valley  and  the  hills  com 
manding  the  roads. 

We  were  roused  from  our  slumbers  by  the  attack,  which 
in  the  moonlight  and  the  silence  of  the  night,  sounded  distinctly 
through  all  our  camps,  and  we  realized  that  the  question  of  our 
supplies  was  being  settled  by  the  musketry  which  echoed  through 
the  still  air  from  the  mountain  side.  That  night  the  steamboat 
at  Chattanooga  successfully  ran  the  batteries  on  Lookout,  and  the 
one  at  Bridgeport  was  soon  in  motion  up  the  river,  laden  with 


A   BRIGHTER   OtJTLOOK.  509 

supplies.  This  movement  was  made  none  too  soon.  The  very 
day  that  Hooker  went  up  the  valley,  our  boys  only  went  through 
the  motions  of  having  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper — all  they  had 
was  some  coffee,  with  the  addition  at  supper  of  a  little  beef.  On 
the  31st,  one  hundred  pounds  of  hard  bread — a  good  share  of 
which  was  green  and  yellow  with  mould,  besides  being  wormy — 
was  all  that  could  be  allowed  for  the  regiment.  Even  at  head 
quarters,  about  this  time,  we  had  a  few  flour  pancakes,  with  a 
little  bacon,  and  water  to  drink,  while  the  men  who  had  eagerly 
picked  up  bits  of  mouldy  hard  tack  and  gathered  kernels  of  corn 
out  of  the  mud  and  fried  them  in  a  little  grease,  thought  them 
selves  specially  happy.  Indeed,  the  short  rations,  scanty  cloth 
ing,  excessive  picket  and  trench  duty,  the  wet  and  stormy  weather 
and  cold  nights,  were  telling  fearfully  on  the  men,  whose  sunken 
cheeks  and  spiritless  manner  gave  token  that  their  powers  of 
endurance  were  being  greatly  tried.  Sometimes  they  were  so 
weak  that  they  tottered  and  staggered  like  old  men.  The  teams, 
too,  which  through  the  mud,  rain  and  dangers  of  those  weeks 
had  kept  on  the  mountain  road,  to  our  base,  were  fast  perishing. 
Many  of  the  deep  ruts  and  ditches  were  filled  with  animals  that 
had  died  in  the  harness,  while  dead  horses  and  mules  were 
scattered  in  every  direction  around  Chattanooga.  But  the  end 
had  come,  and  though  it  was  not  until  the  railroad  was  completed 
that  we  might  be  said  to  have  full  supplies,  yet  by  the  5th  of 
November  the  change  was  so  great  as  to  justify  the  most  cheer 
ing  comments  in  the  journals  of  the  men.  For  the  sick  and  the 
wounded,  too,  the  relief  was  most  acceptable,  for  instead  of  being 
transferred  to  the  rear  over  the  rough  mountain  roads,  they  were 
sent  on  the  return  trip  of  the  boats. 

The  whole  outlook  for  the  future  became  more  bright.     We 
had  no  longer  the  prospect  of  choosing  between   evacuation   and 


510  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

starvation.  The  siege  was  virtually  raised,  and  it  was  simply  a 
question  of  time  when  we  should  assume  the  offensive,  tear  down 
the  flags  now  flaunting  from  Mission  Ridge  and  Lookout,  and 
plant  there  the  stars  and  stripes. 

The  most  gigantic  preparations  were  now  undertaken  for  driv- 
ind  the  enemy  from  his  strongholds.  Sherman,  who  had  been 
repairing  roads  as  he  advanced,  was  ordered  forward  with  all 
speed.  All  available  men  in  the  rear  were  brought  up,  and 
arrangements  made  for  mounting  the  forts  with  heavy  siege 
artillery.  The  sight  of  these  black  monsters  was  particularly 
gratifying  to  those  who  had  been  so  long  penned  up  within 
entrenchments,  and  the  rebound  from  the  discouragements  of 
Chickamauga,  and  the  sufferings  gf  the  state  of  siege  began  to 
be  felt.  Nothing,  however,  has  appeared  more  inexplicable  than 
Bragg's  strange  ignorance  of  the  situation,  notwithstanding  that 
from  his  post  of  observation  all  our  operations  were  exposed  to 
view.  Even  so  vital  a  movement  as  the  junction  with  Hooker 
at  Brown's  Ferry,  he  failed  to  comprehend  until  it  was  too  late 
to  arrest  it,  and  now  so  little  did  he  divine  our  plans  or  under 
stand  our  situation  that  he  detached  Longstreet  with  his  corps  to 
recover  East  Tennessee  by  overwhelming  Burnside,  with  the 
expectation,  perhaps,  of  returning  to  attack  us.  Not  content 
with  this,  other  portions  of  his  army  were  afterward  sent  to 
Longstreet's  support.  Perhaps  it  was  to  cover  their  movement 
that  a  general  attack  was  threatened  November  2nd,  and  all  our 
forces  were  thrown  into  the  entrenchments  at  night,  remaining 
there  about  two  hours  and  then  returning  to  camp.  Men  were 
set  to  work  building  a  bastion  near  our  reserve  line,  to  be  mounted 
with  artillery.  As  soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  Longstreet 
had  gone,  Gen.  Grant  was  anxious  to  attack  Bragg,  both  to  take 
advantage  of  his  weakened  force  and  to  make  a  diversion  for  the 


FATE    OF   TWO    DESERTERS.  511 

relief  of  Burnside.  Indeed,  an  order  was  issued  for  an  attack 
on  the  north  end  of  Missionary  Ridge  November  7th,  but  after 
a  careful  examination  of  the  ground,  the  condition  and  paucity 
of  the  animals  and  the  inadequacy  of  his  forces,  he  decided  that 
the  movement  was  "  utterly  impracticable  until  Sherman  could 
get  up."  This  caused  a  delay  of  over  two  weeks,  but  the  grand 
success  which  resulted  showed  the  wisdom  of  it.  It  was  not 
until  the  15th  that  Sherman  with  his  advance  reached  Bridge 
port,  when  he  immediately  hastened  to  Chattanooga,  and  the 
plans  were  matured  for  the  general  attack. 

In  the  meantime  some  incidents  occurred  which  are  worthy  of 
mention.  On  the  12th,  the  Chaplain  was  sent  for  to  Brigade 
Headquarters  by  Col.  Sherman.  On  his  reporting  there,  he 
was  informed  that  two  men  of  the  brigade,  one  belonging  to  the 
44th  and  the  other  to  the  88th,  had  been  sentenced  by  court 
martial  to  be  shot  for  desertion,  and  the  sentences,  having  been 
approved  by  the  Commanding  General  and  the  President,  would 
be  carried  out  at  twelve  o'clock  next  day.  The  Chaplain  was 
requested  to  prepare  the  men  for  their  fate.  A  tent  was  set  up 
and  every  facility  afforded  him  for  his  melancholy  task.  Subse 
quently  a  Catholic  chaplain  was  procured  for  the  man  from  the 
44th,  he  being  a  German  Catholic.  With  the  other  it  was  found 
impossible  to  make  any  progress,  as  he  insisted  that  his  sentence 
was  unjust,  and  that  on  proper  representation  being  made  his 
life  would  be  spared.  That  no  obstacle  might  remain  in  the  way 
of  his  true  preparation,  the  Chaplain  waited  on  Col.  Sherman, 
and  subsequently  inquiries  were  made  as  to  the  possibility  of  a 
reprieve.  It  was  found  that  his  desertion  had  been  attended 
with  such  marked  aggravations  that  not  a  man  of  his  own  com 
pany  could  be  induced  to  take  a  single  step  towards  his  deliv 
erance.  The  Chaplain .  informing  him  of  this,  he  resigned 


512  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

himself  to  his  fate,  and  the  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in- settling 
up  his  affairs,  dictating  letters,  written  by  the  Chaplain,  and 
joining  in  reading  the  Scriptures  and  prayer.  He  professed  to 
be  penitent  for  his  sins,  but  still  maintained  his  innocence  of 
any  crime  against  the  Government.  The  next  morning  was 
excessively  cold,  and  on  repairing  to  the  Guard  Tent,  the  Chap 
lain  found  him  standing  with  the  guards  near  a  rail  fire,  which 
had  been  built  for  his  comfort.  Instead  of  appearing  in  the 
penitent  mood  of  the  previous  evening,  he  soon  broke  out  into  bitter 
accusations  against  everybody  who  had  anything  to  do  with  his 
condemnation,  exclaiming  against  their  injustice,  and  declaring 
that  they  dare  not  execute  his  sentence.  As  this  speech  was 
evidently  made  for  effect  on  the  guards  and  those  to  whom  it 
would  be  repeated,  the  Chaplain  called  his  attention  to  the  time 
and  care  that  had  been  taken  in  his  case  ;  to  the  unprejudiced 
character  of  the  men  who  had  tried  him ;  to  the  fact  that  the 
evidence  and  findings  had  been  reviewed  by  the  highest  author 
ities,  and  that  even  his  own  company  would  not  make  any  move 
towards  the  mitigation  of  his  doom,  assuring  him  by  all  that  was 
solemn,  that  the  sentence  would  be  executed,  and  that  when  the 
hour  arrived  he  would  be  a  dead  man.  He  exhorted  him  to  use 
his  few  last  hours  in  preparing  to  meet  his  God,  rather  than 
accusing  man.  As  soon  as  he  saw  he  would  not  be  allowed  to 
prejudice  the  guards,  he  desisted  from  his  attempts,  and  thence 
forth  gave  himself  up  to  conversation,  prayer  and  sending  his 
farewell  messages  and  tokens  of  affection  to  his  friends.  Just 
before  noon,  the  officers  and  guards  arrived,  the  two  men  were 
brought  out  and  the  mournful  procession  started. 

In  the  meantime  the  whole  brigade  had  been  drawn  up  in  an 
open  space  east  of  the  railroad  track.  Four  regiments  formed 
three  sides  of  a  hollow  square,  the  railroad  bank  making  the 


A   MILITARY   EXECUTION   FOR   DESERTION.  513 

fourth  side.  The  remaining  five  regiments  formed  a  similar 
square  outside  the  first  one,  and  some  twenty  feet  from  it.  The 
regiments  forming  the  smaller  square  faced  about,  and  through 
this  passage  between  the  squares  the  procession  marched.  First 
came  the  band  of  the  24th  Wisconsin,  playing  a  dead  march  ; 
next  followed  the  guard  and  details  from  the  two  companies  to 
which  the  condemned  belonged,  who  were  to  execute  the  sen 
tence;  then  eight  men  carrying  the  two  coffins,  followed  by  the 
doomed  men,  each  attended  by  his  chaplain.  As  they  struck 
the  right  of  the  brigade  where  were  Gen.  Sheridan  and  Col. 
Sherman  with  their  staifs,  the  88th  man,  who  had  evidently 
determined  to  make  the  most  of  his  situation,  straightened  him 
self  and  saluted  the  officers  with  the  grace  of  a  Major  General, 
and  all  through  the  march  around  the  regiments  he  continued  to 
salute  the  officers,  and  conduct  himself  with  the  loftiest  bearing. 
On  reaching  again  the  railroad  embankment  the  coffins  were  set 
down,  and  the  guard  and  detail  to  fire  took  their  places  in  front 
of  the  smaller  square.  The  Chaplain  addressed  to  his  man  a 
few  last  words,  urging  him,  as  he  would  appear  so  soon  in  the 
presence  of  God,  to  truly  repent  of  his  sins  and  cast  himself  on 
His  mercy.  They  then  knelt  down  by  the  side  of  the  coffin 
while  the  Chaplain  offered  a  short  prayer,  and  then  shaking 
hands  with  him,  left  him  seated  on  his  coffin.  The  other  man 
had  a  crucifix  placed  in  his  hands  by  his  Chaplain,  on  which  he 
was  exhorted  steadily  to  gaze.  The  Brigade  Adjutant  stepped 
forward  and  began  to  read  the  sentences  and  orders  under 
which  the  executions  were  to  take  place  ;  at  the  same  time 
every  regimental  adjutant  stepped  out  in  front  of  his  regiment 
and  did  the  same,  so  that  every  man  throughout  the  whole  brig 
ade  heard  the  order.  A  white  cloth  was  then  bound  over  the 
eyes  of  the  condemned.  The  regiments  in  the  inner  square 


514  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

faced  inwards  and  with  the  guard  knelt  down,  when  the  orders 
"  Prepare — take  aim — fire  !"  were  given  in  a  low  tone,  and  the 
men  fell  dead  without  a  struggle.  The  88th  man,  as  the  order 
was  given,  pointed  to  his  heart,  indicating  his  wish  to  be  shot 
there.  The  moment  they  fell,  Col.  Sherman  gave  the  command 
"Forward."  and  leading  the  way  with  his  staff,  the  whole  brig 
ade  filed  past  the  dead  bodies  and  wont  into  camp. 

Besides  the  brigade,  there  were  thousands  of  men  gathered 
from  all  parts  of  the  army  to  witness  this  strange  and  mournful 
sight.  It  was  the  first  time  that  this  extreme  penalty  had  been 
inflicted  in  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  was  regarded  by 
some  as  a  doubtful  course  to  take.  The  result  was  every  way 
favorable  to  the  interests  of  the  army,  for  so  far  from  exciting 
sympathy  for  the  sufferers  and  their  cause,  the  general,  and  it 
might  almost  be  said  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  multitudes  that 
discussed  it  was  one  of  condemnation  of  the  men,  arid  of  increased 
determination  to  uphold  the  flag  and  the  welfare  of  the  country. 
The  common  expression  was,  "Well,  I  am  not  going  out  of  the 
army  that  way."  The  event  was  one  of  the  most  exciting  in  all 
our  experience,  and  created  much  commotion  for  the  time.  On 
the  following  Sabbath  a  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Chaplain 
from  the  text,  "Prepare  to  meet  thy  God,"  in  which  the  prac 
tical  lessons  of  the  sad  sight  were  enforced,  and  the  necessity  of 
true  allegiance  to  Divine  government  was  exhibited. 

On  Saturday,  Nov.  14th,  the  regiment  was  paid  off,  and  if  the 
men  had  been  unable  to  procure  a  full  supply  of  clothing,  had 
compensation  now  in  being  able  to  draw  a  corresponding  increase 
of  pay.  At  the  request  of  Col.  Miller,  the  Chaplain  received 
permission  to  carry  home  to  the  families  of  the  soldiers  their 
much  needed  money.  His  task  was  a  very  complicated  and 
delicate  one,  owing  to  the  many  interests  that  had  to  be  attended 


METHOD  OF  TRANSMITTING  MONEY.          515 

to.  It  may  be  interesting  to  notice  how  it  was  discharged  in 
the  36th,  and  how  the  many  dissatisfactions  experienced  by 
other  regiments  were  avoided.  Both  now  and  when  we  were 
paid  off  at  Cowan,  the  following  course  was  adopted  :  Notice  hav 
ing  been  given  through  the  regiment,  each  man  prepared  his  let 
ter,  with  the  money  enclosed ;  then  each  company  reported  in 
turn  at  the  Chaplain's  tent,  where  several  officers  were  present 
to  assist  him.  Each  letter  was  emptied  of  its  contents  and  the 
amount  entered  on  a  roll — the  letters  being  filed  away.  When 
this  was  done,  and  the  amount  on  the  roll  and  the  amount  of 
cash  were  found  to  agree,  the  money  was  refunded  to  the  Pay 
master,  who  issued  his  draft  on  Louisville  for  the  total  sum,  and 
then  all  risk  of  loss  by  capture  of  the  train  was  avoided.  On 
reaching  Louisville,  the  Chaplain  drew  the  full  amount  from  the 
U.S.  Depository  and  replaced  the  necessary  sum  in  each  letter. 
On  reaching  Chicago,  all  letters  that  could  not  be  delivered  in 
person  were  sent  out  by  express,  the  agent  signing  the  receipt  roll, 
and  the  rest  were  conveyed  to  the  families  personally,  they  sign 
ing  the  roll  also.  By  this  simple  means  all  misunderstandings 
were  avoided  and  entire  satisfaction  was  secured.  The  amount 
thus  distributed  this  time  was  about  $17,000. 

AvS  the  men  were  suffering  so  much  for  lack  of  warm  clothing, 
the  Chaplain  obtained  permission  from  headquarters  to  bring- 
back  with  him  a  box  of  goods,  not  exceeding  five  hundred  pounds, 
not  doubting  that  friends  at  home  would  gladly  fill  such  a  box 
with  socks  and  mittens.  Everything  being  arranged,  he  was 
sent  over  in  an  ambulance  to  Kelley's  Ferry,  on  Wednesday,  Nov. 
18th,  taking  the  evening  boat,  which  arrived  at  Bridgeport  in 
the  night.  He  there  found  that  Gen.  Sherman  had  been  rowed 
down  the  river  in  a  small  boat ;  had  started  his  troops  forward 
with  all  haste,  and  that  the  previous  evening  a  force  had  crossed 


516  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

the  river  to  penetrate  the  Trenton  Valley,  and  thus  begin  that 
series  of  movements  which  in  just  one  week  drove  the  enemy 
from  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mission  Ridge. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 


MISSION    RIDGE. 

c\ 


N  ONE  respect,  at  least,  the  great  battles  of  Chat 
tanooga  were  in  marked  contrast  to  Chickamauga. 
The  latter  was  fought  on  ground  which  afforded  no 
points  of  view  from  which  the  nature  and  progress 
of  the  struggle  might  be  seen  and  directed,  and  every 
division,  and  sometimes  each  brigade,  had,  in  a  sense, 
to  fight  alone.  As  a  consequence,  not  only  was  the 
general  conduct  of  the  battle  hindered,  but  the  troops  were 
deprived  of  that  moral  support  which  comes  from  the  knowledge 
of  what  others  are  doing,  and  the  consciousness  that  their  own 
conduct  is  observed  by  the  rest  of  the  army.  These  conditions 
were  now  to  be  exactly  reversed,  for  if  the  battles  of  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge  will  always  furnish  one  of  the 
most  thrilling  stories  of  the  war  and  of  modern  times,  it  is  partly 
because  the  theatre  of  those  battles  was  such  as  not  only  to  give 


FORT   WOOD   AND    LOOKOUT   MOUNTAIN.  517 

scope  for  great  generalship  and  wise  direction,  but  also  to  evoke 
from  every  soldier  all  the  heroism  and  patriotism  of  which  he  was 
capable.  A  brief  description  of  this  theatre  is  absolutely  essen 
tial  to  a  correct  understanding  of  the  struggle  by  those  who  were 
not  present.  Every  36th  man  knows  full  well  that  country,  and 
carries  in  his  own  remembrance  a  picture  of  it  which  will  perish 
only  with  his  life. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  objects  in  that  semi-circle  of  works 
erected  by  our  army  in  front  of  Chattanooga  was  Fort  Wood, 
remarkable  riot  only  for  its  great  size  and  strength,  but  because 
from  its  location  admirably  adapted  to  reach  the  enemy's  line 
even  to  the  summit  of  Mission  Ridge.  From  this  fort  the  most 
comprehensive  view  of  the  situation  could  be  obtained.  Stand 
ing  on  the  parapet,  the  town  in  the  rear,  the  general  line  of  our 
works  reaching  from  the  river  above  the  town  to  the  river  at  the 
foot  of  Lookout  was  plainly  visible,  with  lesser  works  for  the 
grand  guards  and  the  pickets  in  front.  The  most  prominent 
object,  of  course,  was  Lookout  Mountain,  which  seems  to  stand 
guard  over  this  whole  region,  go  where  we  will.  From  Fort 
Wood  it  is  nearly  five  miles,  though  appearing  only  two,  and  from 
its  summit  the  Southern  flag  waved  and  heavy  guns  boomed  from 
day  to  day.  In  front,  stretching  away  to  the  north,  as  far  as 
the  eye  could  see,  to  the  south  and  south-east,  until  nearly  touch 
ing  Lookout,  is  Mission  Ridge,  itself  a  high  mountain  range  but 
appearing  low  in  contrast  Avith  Lookout.  In  front  of  this  ridge, 
broken  by  detached  hills,  is  the  Chattanooga  Valley,  which 
sweeping  south,  turns  to  the  south-east  through  a  narrow  open 
ing  between  the  ridge  and  Lookout  range.  Of  these  detached 
hills  which  break  up  the  valley,  the  principal  one  is  Orchard 
Knob,  directly  in  front  of  Fort  Wood  and  half  way  between  it 
and  Mission"  Ridge,  while  a  little  to  the  south  was  the  beautiful 


518  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

mound  shaped  hill  which  afterwards  was  devoted  as  a  national 
cemetery.  All  along  the  front,  on  the  top  of  Mission  Ridge, 
across  the  valley  and  on  the  top  of  Lookout,  could  be  seen  the 
tents  and  camps  of  the  enemy,  while  directly  in  front  of  Fort 
Wood  on  the  top  of  the  ridge,  Bragg's  headquarters  was  in  plain 
sight,  with  the  flag  waving  over  it.  Through  the  valley,  from 
north  to  south  and  in  front  of  our  line,  were  entrenchments  for 
the  grand  guards  and  pickets  of  the  enemy,  and  those  on  Orchard 
Knob  and  vicinity  were  quite  strong  works.  On  the  north  end 
of  Mission  Ridge  he  had  a  position  of  great  strength  protecting 
his  railroad  communications,  while  Lookout  on  his  extreme  left 
was  regarded  as  unassailable,  although  Hooker  held  the  valley 
below. 

It  was  on  Friday,  the  20th  of  November,  that  the  army  in 
Chattanooga  received  orders  looking  to  the  coming  battle,  although, 
as  we  have  just  seen,  movements  had  already  been  made  from 
other  points.  On  that  day,  every  man  was  to  be  ready  for  action 
with  two  days'  cooked  rations  in  haversack  and  eighty  rounds 
of  ammunition.  Dr.  Lytle  was  detached  from  the  regiment 
and  placed  in  charge  of  Division  Hospital  No.  2,  and  the  musi 
cians,  &c.,  were  ordered  to  be  ready  with  stretchers,  to  carry  off 
the  wounded  from  the  field.  Saturday,  the  21st,  was  the  day 
fixed  for  the  attack,  but  a  heavy  rain  commenced  on  the  20th 
and  continued  through  the  21st,  making  it  impossible  for  Sher 
man  to  get  into  position  on  our  left.  Indeed,  it  is  but  just  to 
have  it  understood  that  not  only  the  day  fixed  for  the  battle  was 
changed,  but  the  whole  plan  of  attack  was  so  modified  by  cir 
cumstances  beyond  control,  that  the  final  issue  was  entirely  dif 
ferent  from  the  original  intention  of  Gen.  Grant,  and  several  of 
the  most  important  movements  did  not  enter  into  his  plans  at  all. 
The  original  plan  contemplated  the  principal  movement  to  be 


KEMOVAL    OF    NON-COMBATANTS.  519 

made  by  Sherman  against  the  position  of  the  enemy  on  the 
north  end  of  the  Ridge ;  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  to  con 
centrate  toward  the  north  end  of  the  Ridge,  and  ultimately  join 
with  Sherman  in  dislodging  the  enemy  from  it  altogether. 
Hooker  was  in  the  meantime  to  hold  Lookout  Valley,  but  no 
attempt  was  to  be  made  to  take  the  Mountain.  On  the  22nd,  a 
further  postponement  was  necessary,  in  consequence  of  the  part 
ing  of  the  bridge  at  Brown's  Ferry,  preventing  two  of  Sherman's 
Divisions  from  crossing. 

It  was  then  that  Gen.  Thomas  suggested  the  moving  of  How 
ard's  Corps  to  join  Sherman  and  the  using  of  the  divisions 
left  behind  in  an  attempt  to  take  Lookout.  Howard  was 
accordingly  moved  into  Chattanooga  and  took  his  place  to  the 
left  of  the  Fourth  Corps.  All  this  day  the  troops  were  in  an 
excited  condition,  and  Fort  Wood  shelled  Mission  Ridge  heavily. 
Deserters  came  in  who  said  that  troops  had  been  sent  to  McLe- 
more's  Cove,  and  that  there  were  indications  that  Bragg  was 
about  to  retreat.  This,  joined  to  the  fact  that  on  the  20th  he 
had  notified  Grant  to  remove  all  non-combatants  from  the  town, 
induced  the  latter  to  order  a  reconnoisance,  to  find  out  whether 
Bragg  was  retreating  or  not.  This  reconnoisance  proved  to  be 
th^  real  opening  of  the  battle,  and  its  results  were  such  as  to 
have  a.  marked  effect  on  the  subsequent  movements. 

It  was  about  noon  of  the  23rd  that  the  order  was  received  to 
"Fall  in,"  and  Sheridan's  Division  was  formed  in  line  in  front 
of  the  breastworks — to  the  right  of  Wood's  Division,  which  was 
to  lead  the  movement  by  a  demonstration  against  Orchard  Knob, 
while  our  Division  was  to  act  as  support.  It  was  a  grand  and 
imposing  sight,  as  these  divisions  moved  out  in  plain  view  of 
the  enemy  and  started  forth  on  their  desperate  task.  It  must 
have  been  that  Bragg  thought  his  position  too  strong  for  even 


520  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  thought  of  assault,  or  he  would  not  have  allowed  this  advance 
to  be  so  slightly  checked. 

Wood's  Division,  stirred  with  the  consciousness  that  the  eyes 
not  only  of  the  enemy,  but  of  the  whole  army  were  upon  them, 
moved  rapidly  forward,  his  left  capturing  the  Knob  with  unex 
pected  ease,  and  his  right,  after  a  desperate  bayonet  charge,  car- 
rving  a  lower  hill.  Sheridan  moved  up  his  Division  to  the  right, 
and  Granger's  headquarters  at  four  o'clock  were  on  Orchard  Knob. 

All  this  was  unexpected  success,  as  simply  a  reconnoisance 
had  been  designed ;  but  Wood  and  Sheridan  were  immediately 
ordered  to  fortify  and  hold  their  positions,  while  Howard  was 
thrown  to  the  left  of  Wood,  where,  after  a  brief  struggle  he  suc 
ceeded  in  forming  his  line.  Our  brigade,  advancing  to  this  place, 
lay  behind  rail  breastworks ;  after  dark  the  works  were  raised, 
capped  with  logs  and  banked  up  with  earth.  On  Orchard  Knob 
preparations  were  made  for  a  battery,  and  Bridge's  was  moved 
there  during  the  night.  Thus  auspicionsly  did  the  work  begin, 
for  we  had  not  only  gained  ground  unexpectedly,  but  it  was 
ground  from  which  other  movements  could  be  most  favorably 
prosecuted;  for  from  these  hills  the  enemy's  positions  could  be 
plainly  seen — the  Ridge,  with  its  three  lines  of  works  and  all 
the  open  space  in  front.  Besides,  the  movement  was  so  vigorous 
and  imposing,  that  Bragg  was  compelled  to  transfer  Walker's 
Divisions  from  Lookout  Mountain  to  sustain  his  left — thereby 
opening  the  way  for  Hooker's  success  next  day.  During  the 
night  the  lines  were  perfectly  quiet.  About  three  o'clock  our 
brigade  was  moved  farther  to  the  left,  where  the  works  were  only 
some  eighteen  inches  high,  but  we  soon  raised  them  to  three  and 
one-half  feet. 

During  this  time,  the  most  important  movements  were  being 
made  by  both  Sherman  and  Hooker.     On  the  23rd,  another  of 


GENERAL    SHERMAN    ADVANCES.  521 

Sherman's  Divisions  crossed  at  Brown's  Ferry,  when  the  bridge 
was  again  broken  ;  but  Grant  determined  to  wait  no  longer.  For 
several  days  a  large  number  of  pontoons  had  been  accumulated  at 
North  Chickamauga,  prepared  to  float  down  and  effect  a  landing 
at  South  Chickamauga. 

Great  care  had  been  taken  to  preserve  the  secresy  of  these 
preparations,  and  the  citizens  throughout  the  region  had  been 
put  under  guard.  Sherman  being  now  ready  to  cross,  at  mid 
night  of  the  "23d,  one  hundred  and  sixteen  boats  with  a  brigade 
left  the  North  Chickamauga  and  floated  quietly  down,  landing  on 
the  enemy's  side  of  the  river.  Troops  were  then  brought  rapidly 
over,  and  by  daylight  two  divisions  had  crossed  and  the  construc 
tion  of  the  bridge  was  well  advanced.  The  steamer  Dunbar  also 
came  up  from  Chattanooga  and  aided  in  crossing  troops.  Soon 
Gen.  Howard,  with  a  brigade  of  the  llth  Corps,  came  through 
the  valley  and  joined  Sherman,  showing  that  the  enemy  had 
fallen  back  to  his  positions  near  the  ridge.  The  bridge  was  fin 
ished  at  eleven  o'clock.  At  one  o'clock  Sherman  began  his 
advance,  and  in  due  time  occupied  the  two  northern  summits  of 
Missionary  Ridge.  He  found,  however,  that  the  enemy  was  in 
strong  position  on  the  third  summit  which  protected  the  tunnel. 

While  all  this  was  going  on  at  the  left,  Gen.  Hooker  at  the 
right  was  even  more  successful.  As  soon  as  it  was  ascertained 
that  Osterhaus'  Division  could  riot  cross  in  time  to  join  Sherman, 
Hooker  was  ordered  to  make  a  demonstration  against  Lookout, 
and  if  found  practicable,  take  the  point.  At  eight  o'clock  Geary's 
Division  and  other  troops  began  to  move  up  the  mountain  side, 
hid  by  the  fog,  while  other  forces  prepared  to  co-operate  below. 
The  attention  of  the  enemy  was  concentrated  on  the  latter  in  a 
vain  attempt  to  prevent  their  crossing  Lookout  Creek,  and  when 
Geary  had  succeeded  in  reaching  the  rocky  palisades  of  the 

34 


522  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

mountain  with  his  right,  sweeping  on  towards  the  point  with  his 
line,  the  troops  below  were  ready  to  join  him,  thus  taking  the 
enemy's  ranks  in  flank  and  rear.  The  artillery  at  the  same  time 
did  fearful  execution,  and  scattering  in  all  directions  they  began 
to  retreat  around  the  front  of  the  mountain.  On  this  point  the 
Moccasin  battery  had  full  range,  preventing  the  concentration 
of  forces,  and  so  our  line  swept  on,  inflicting  heavy  loss  and  cap 
turing  a  large  number  of  prisoners.  The  noise  of  that  battle 
created  intense  excitement  in  the  rest  of  the  army.  Every  avail 
able  spot  was  sought  from  which  to  catch  a  glimpse,  if  possible, 
of  the  conflict,  and  as  the  noise  indicated  its  coming  eastward, 
the  agitation  grew  more  and  more  wild,  until  through  the  rifts  in 
the  fog  and  smoke  could  be  plainly  seen  the  flying  rebels,  fol 
lowed  by  the  blue  line  of  our  troops,  stretching  from  the  rocky 
face  of  the  mountain,  far  down  towards  the  valley,  and  appear 
ing,  a.s  it  slowly  moved  round  the  nose  of  Lookout,  like  the  swing 
ing  of  a  huge  pendulum. 

The  36th  at  this  time  occupied  the  hill  south  of  Orchard  Knob 
(which  afterward  became  the  National  Cemetery),  and  had  there 
fore  a  fine  view  of  the  whole  movement.  It  was  an  inspiring  sight  to 
men  who  had  watched  so  long  and  so  impatiently  the  waving  of 
the  Rebel  flag  on  Lookout,  to  see  now  flag  after  flag,  with  the 
beautiful  stars  and  stripes,  borne  gallantly  round  the  point,  and 
though  two  miles  away,  the  firing  and  the  cheering  of  each  charge 
were  plainly  heard.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  Hooker's  men 
had  exhausted  their  ammunition,  and  as  it  could  not  be  supplied 
in  the  ordinary  way,  they  had  to  wait.  At  five  o'clock,  a  brigade 
from  the  14th  Corps  crossed  Chattanooga  Creek  and  ascended  the 
mountain,  carrying  on  their  persons  a  supply  of  ammunition  for 
Hooker,  beside  what  was  needed  for  themselves.  Heavy  skir 
mishing  was  resumed  and  continued  until  near  midnight,  and  for 


SHERMAN    RENEWS    HIS    ATTACK.  523 

hours  the  mountain  side  was  illuminated  by  the  constant  flashing 
of  musketry. 

Next  morning,  before  daylight,  a  number  of  daring  men  from 
the  8th  Kentucky  scaled  the  rocky  heights,  and  planting  the 
National  flag  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  announced  to  the 
whole  army  the  full  success  of  the  day  before.  As  the  morning 
light  fell  on  the  beautiful  folds,  cheer  after  cheer  went  up  through 
all  the  lines,  and  a  fresh  inspiration  was  gathered  for  the  crown 
ing  work  of  the  day.  Soon  after,  it  was  found  that  the  whole 
mountain,  as  well  as  the  summit,  was  evacuated,  and  that  troops 
had  been  drawn  off  to  re-inforce  Missionary  Ridge.  Subse 
quently  Gen.  Hooker  was  ordered  to  march  his  force,  except  what 
was  necessary  to  hold  the  mountain,  towards  Rossville,  and  then 
in  co-operation  with  the  14th  Corps,  to  sweep  north  along  the 
ridge.  Delayed  through  the  burning  of  a  bridge,  &c.,  Gen. 
Hooker  did  not  accomplish  his  purpose  as  early  as  was  expected, 
but  succeeded  far  enough  to  draw  troops  from  the  centre  to  oppose 
him,  arid  thus  contribute  to  the  final  success  of  the  day. 

In  the  meantime  Sherman  had  renewed  his  attack.  The  orig 
inal  plan  for  the  day  contemplated  a  combined  attack  by  Sher 
man  and  Thomas,  but  as  Sherman  had  not  yet  carried  the  ridge 
to  the  tunnel,  the  combined  movement  was  delayed  until  later. 
All  through  the  morning  he  continued  his  operations  against 
what  proved  to  be  a  very  strong  natural  position,  made  well  nigh 
impregnable  by  works  and  by  the  veteran  troops  which  manned 
them.  As  Gen.  Grant  observed  the  contest  from  Orchard  Knob, 
he  ordered  at  ten  A.  M.  Gen.  Howard's  Corps  on  the  left  of  the 
Fourth,  to  report  to  Sherman,  who  soon  renewed  his  effort  against 
the  enemy's  right  but  was  partially  repulsed.  About  noon  Grant 
detached  Baird's  Division  of  the  14th  Corps  to  still  further 
reinforce  Sherman,  but  on  reaching  him  Baird  was  informed  that 


524  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

he  was  not  needed,  and  returning  to  the  centre  he  formed  his 
division  with  the  left  of  Wood  at  half-past  two  o'clock.  These 
movements  declaring  Grant's  determination  to  carry  the  north 
end  of  the  ridge  were  answered  by  corresponding  ones  of  the 
enemy  to  his  right ;  but  as  the  day  advanced  and  Sherman  had 
not  turned  the  right  and  Hooker  had  not  yet  made  his  appear 
ance  on  the  left,  it  was  evident  that  some  new  effort  must  be 
made  if  the  enemy  was  not  to  be  left  in  possession  of  Missionary 
Ridge.  Soon  after  the  return  of  Baird's  Division  therefore,  Grant 
ordered  an  independent  assault  from  the  centre,  not  to  take  the 
ridge,  but  the  rifle  pits  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  by,  if  possible, 
the  skirmish  line.  The  signal  for  the  advance  was  six  second 
guns  from  Bridge's  Battery  on  Orchard  Knob. 

Sherman's  Brigade  and  the  36th  had  continued  to  occupy  the 
ground  assigned  them  early  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  and 
from  their  position  on  cemetery  hill  had  a  splendid  view  of  the 
movements  on  Lookout  and  all  along  the  ridge.    About  ten  o'clock 
three  companies  A,  B  and  F  were  sent  forward  to  be  deployed  as 
skirmishers,  under  the  command  of  Major  Sherman.      At  one 
o'clock  the  three  regiments  composing  the  front  line  of  the  brig 
ade,  of  which  the  36th  was  one,  were  ordered  to  what  had  been 
the  front  line  of  the  enemy's  works,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
from  the  foot  of  Mission  Ridge.      These  three  regiments  were 
placed  under  the  immediate  command  of  Col.  Barrett,  Col.  Miller 
having  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  four  other  regiments. 
The  command  of  the  36th  thus  fell  on  Lieut.   Col.   Olson.     In 
the  midst  of  all  the  other  stirring  events,  about  noon  the  boat 
from  Bridgeport  sent  forth  its  piercing  scream  as  it  approached 
Lookout.     In  a  little  while  it  appeared  around  the  bend  of  the 
river,  and  steamed  up  towards  the  town,  giving  to  the  boys  the 
most  cheering  proof  of  all  that  the  blockade  was  raised,  by  open- 


LIEUT.    TURNBULL   COMMUNICATES    ORDERS.  525 

ing  up  the  "  Cracker  line."  The  exciting  events  of  the  past  two 
days,  the  splendid  successes  already  achieved,  stirred  the  men  to 
the  utmost,  and  they  were  ready  to  do  and  dare,  while  every 
soldier  was  general  enough  to  see  that  with  the  enemy  massing 
against  Sherman  we  could  not  long  remain  idle.  But  where 
should  we  go  ? 

It  was  about  three  o'clock  when  Col.  Sherman  was  notified  of 
the  intended  advance,  and  ordered  to  be  ready  at  the  firing  of 
the  signal.  Lieut.  Turnbull  was  directed  by  him  to  communicate 
the  order  to  the  picket  line.  He  started  at  once,  and  commencing 
at  the  left  passed  along  to  the  right,  giving  every  man  and  officer 
the  order  and  signal.  "I  shall  never  forget,"  he  says,  "the 
change  of  countenance  exhibited  by  those  men  as  they  received 
the  order  and  nerved  themselves  for  the  conflict.  They  seemed 
to  me  like  men  that  understood  fully  what  was  required  of  them, 
and  that  nothing  but  death  would  hinder  them  from  carrying  out 
the  order."  But  what  a  task  it  was  !  They  must  come  out  from 
the  protection  of  the  woods  and  charge  across  an  open  plain  half 
a  mile  wide,  in  the  very  presence  of  the  enemy,  with  sixty  pieces 
of  artillery  playing  on  them,  sweeping  the  ground  with  shot  and 
shell ;  then  when  the  foot  of  the  ridge  was  reached  "  a  heavy 
work,  packed  with  the  enemy,  rimming  it  like  a  battlement.  That 
work  carried,  what  then?  A  hill  struggling  up  out, of  the  valley 
four  hundred  feet,  rained  on  by  bullets,  swept  by  shot  and  shell ; 
another  line  of  works,  then  up  like  a  Gothic  roof,  rough  with 
rocks,  a  wreck  with  fallen  trees,  four  hundred  more  ;  another 
ring  of  fire  and  iron,  then  the  crest  and  then  the  enemy."  For 
such  a  journey  no  wonder  the  men  had  to  brace  themselves. 

Turnbull  had  scarcely  reached  the  right  of  the  brigade  line, 
when  the  signal  guns  from  Orchard  Knob  were  fired.  As  soon 
as  the  sixth  gun  was  heard,  Maj.  Sherman's  clear  voice  rang  out, 


526  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

"Forward,  boys,"  and  they  sprang  forward,  emerging  quickly 
from  the  woods  and  starting  across  the  open  meadow,  while  Fort 
Wood  and  Negley,  and  Bridge's  Battery  on  the  Knob,  opened 
fire  over  their  heads,  and  sixty  pieces  of  artillery  from  Mission 
Ridge  swept  their  path  with  deadly  iron.  It  was  a  sight  never 
to  be  forgotten,  and  every  house  top,  fort  and  rise  of  ground  had 
its  spectators,  and  every  man  who  was  not  under  absolute  orders 
was  watching  the  wonderful  charge,  near  two  miles  long.  Nor 
was  this  true  of  our  ranks  alone,  nor  were  Grant  and  Thomas, 
on  Orchard  Knob,  the  only  generals  who  gazed  down  on  that 
strange  sight.  The  army  on  the  ridge  was  equally  excited,  and 
Bragg  stood  near  his  headquarters  and  took  the  measurement  of 
this  new  move.  "  0,  General,"  said  a  woman  who  lived  near  by, 
44  the  Yankees  are  coming.  What  shall  I  do  ?  WThere  shall  I  go  ?" 
"Woman,"  said  he,  "are  you  mad?  There  are  not  Yankees 
enough  in  Chattanooga  to  come  up  here;  those  are  all  my  prison 
ers."  But  onward  went  the  skirmishers,  until  they  reached  the 
rifle  pits  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  out  of  which  they  drove  the 
Rebs,  some  falling  back  to  the  next  line,  and  large  numbers  sur 
rendering  and  hurrying  to  our  rear,  hastened  by  the  fire  of  their 
own  comrades  which  swept  the  ground.  The  main  line  followed 
hard  on  the  skirmishers,  and  the  foot  of  the  ridge  was  held  in 
force,  the  men  being  glad  to  drop  into  the  rifle  pits  for  a  tempo 
rary  shelter,  and  to  gain  a  little  rest. 

The  order  under  which  the  line  had  charged  was  now  obeyed, 
but  it  was  evident  that  something  more  must  be  done.  With  such 
a  storm  of  iron  hail  falling  thickly  around,  it  was  impossible  to 
remain — they  must  either  advance  or  retreat.  To  retreat  was  out 
of  the  question,  after  such  a  success,  and  over  such  a  plain,  and 
yet  there  were  no  orders  to  advance.  "But,"  as  Chaplain  Van 
Home  appropriately  says,  "  there  are  occasional  moments  in 


T  \YLOR  DESCRIBES  THE  BATTLE.  527 

battle  when  brave  men  do  not  need  commanders,  and  this  was 
one."  Says  Turnbull,  uthe  officers  of  the  field  and  line,  and  the 
boys,  were  the  generals  ordering  the  advance ;  in  other  words,  I 
think  it  was  a  necessity  understood  alike  by  officers  and  men,  and 
acted  on  at  once.  This  movement  along  the  line  was  almost 
simultaneous,  yet  I  believe  our  brigade  was  the  first  to  start,  and 
it  was  done  without  any  particular  order  as  to  lines  or  military 
movement.  The  crest  of  the  ridge  was  now  the  objective  point, 
and  they  started  for  it." 

A  keen  observer,  B.  F.  Taylor,  says  :  "  But  they  did  not 
storm  that  mountain  as  you  would  think.  They  dash  out  a  little 
way,  and  then  creep  up,  hand  over  hand,  loading  and  firing,  wav 
ering  and  halting,  from  the  first  line  of  works  toward  the  sec 
ond.  They  burst  into  a  charge  with  a  cheer  and  go  over  it. 
Sheets  of  flame  baptise  them ;  plunging  shot  tear  away  comrades 
on  left  and  right.  It  is  no  longer  shoulder  to  shoulder,  it  is  God 
for  us  all.  Under  the  tree  trunks;  among  rocks;  stumbling  over 
the  dead;  struggling  with  the  living;  facing  the  steady  fire  of 
eight  thousand  infantry  poured  down  upon  their  heads,  as  if  it 
were  the  old  historic  curse  from  heaven,  they  wrestle  with  the 
ridge." 

The  cannonade  from  the  summit  now  grew  terrific,  and  as  the 
charges  of  canister  poured  over  the  heads  of  our  men,  they 
sounded  like  flocks  of  wild  geese  sweeping  past,  while  from  behind 
rocks,  logs  and  earthworks,  poured  an  incessant  stream  of  mus 
ketry  fire.  Twenty-eight  balls  were  counted  in  one  little  tree. 
Through  such  a  storm  and  against  such  odds  our  men  pressed 
onward.  The  generals  now  began  to  appreciate  the  situation, 
and  followed  the  leadership  of  the  rank  and  file. 

Says  Turnbull,  "  I  had  come  forward  with  the  skirmish  line, 
instead  of  returning  and  taking  my  place  with  the  brigade  staff. 


528  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

I  now  joined  Col.  Sherman,  ready  for  further  duty,  and  after 
accompanying  him  part  way  up  the  ridge,  was  ordered  back  by 
him  to  the  first  line  of  works  to  urge  forward  any  troops  that 
might  be  there,  to  assist  in  the  grand  struggle  at  the  top  of  the 
ridge.  I  did  so,  and  ori  reaching  the  rifle  pit,  found  it  full  of 
troops,  protecting  themselves  from  the  fire  as  best  they  could. 
Just  at  this  time  two  staff  officers  rode  up  and  enquired  for  Col. 
Sherman.  I  pointed  to  where  he  was,  and  told  them  he  was 
leading  his  command  up  the  ridge.  One  of  them  then  told  me 
that  he  belonged  to  Gen.  Granger's  Staff;  that  he  was  sent  to  say 
the  movement  beyond  the  front  line  of  works  was  contrary  to 
orders,  and  asked  me  to  communicate  this  to  Col.  Sherman.  I 
declined  to  receive  a  verbal  order  from  him,  saying  that  he  must 
communicate  with  the  Brigade  Commander  himself,  as  I  was  now 
under  orders  from  my  commander  that  looked  as  though  we 
intended  to  see  the  top  of  the  ridge.  I  then  began  in  good  earnest 
the  task  of  urging  forward  laggards,  (and  I  will  say  right  here 
that  I  did  not  find  a  36th  man  among  them).  On  looking  up  the 
ridge  I  became  alarmed.  The  column  had  assumed  a  pyramidal 
or  sugar  loaf  form.  The  brigade  flags,  I  believe  the  colors  of 
every  regiment  of  the  brigade,  were  grouped  together  and  were 
in  advance  of  the  lines.  I  urged  the  men  forward  to  help  plant 
their  colors  on  the  ridge,  and  was  meeting  with  only  tolerable 
success,  when  Gen.  Sheridan,  who  had  taken  in  the  situation, 
dashed  forward  on  his  black  charger  to  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  dis 
mounted,  threw  his  cape  to  his  orderly,  and  running  forward 
among  us,  shouted,  '  Boys,  we  are  going  to  take  the  ridge.  For 
ward  and  help  your  comrades.'  That  settled  the  question,  and 
there  was  no  soldier,  who  was  nut  wounded  or  in  some  way  dis 
abled,  that  did  not  make  every  effort  to  be  among  the  first  to 
reach  the  top  of  the  ridge." 


THE    RIDGE    TAKEN.  529 

In  the  meantime  streams  of  surrendering  and  captured  officers 
and  men  poured  to  the  rear,  while  those  defending  the  heights 
above  grew  more  and  more  desperate  as  our  men  approached  the 
top.  They  shouted  "  Chickamauga "  as  though  the  word  itself 
were  a  weapon  ;  they  thrust  cartridges  into  guns  by  handsfull ; 
they  lighted  the  fusees  of  shells  and  then  rolled  them  down ; 
they  siezed  huge  stones  and  threw  them,  but  nothing  could  stop 
the  force  of  the  desperate  charge,  and  one  after  another  the  regi 
mental  flags  were  borne  over  the  parapet  and  the  ridge  was  ours. 
The  finest  battery  of  guns  in  the  Southern  army,  including  the 
Lady  Buckner  and  Lady  Breckenridge,  &c.,  was  there,  the  ram 
mers  half  way  down  the  guns  when  captured.  These  were 
whirled  round  and  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  flying  foe.  Bragg 
himself,  who  believed  his  position  impregnable,  had  stayed  to  the 
last  moment  and  barely  escaped  as  our  men  came  up  close  to  his 
headquarters.  But  oh !  what  yells  and  cheers  broke  from  the 
panting,  weary,  but  triumphant  ranks.  They  threw  their  haver 
sacks  in  the  air  until  it  was  a  cloud  of  black  spots ;  officers  and 
men  mingled  indiscriminately  in  their  joy  ;  all  distinction  seemed 
lost  for  the  time  in  the  wild  enthusiasm  of  success.  Soon  Gen. 
Sheridan  appeared,  mounted  his  black  horse,  and  the  boys  gath 
ered  around  him  and  cheered,  patted  his  horse  and  greeted  him 
with,  u  How  do  you  like  this,  General  ?"  "  Bully  for  Sheridan," 
&c.,  &c.  In  a  few  moments  our  Corps  Commander,  Gen.  Gor 
don  Granger,  reached  the  top  of  the  ridge,  and  a  number  of  the 
boys,  more  courageous  than  many  of  their  comrades,  gathered 
around  him,  shouting,  "  What  do  you  think  of  this,  General  ?" 

"I    think    you    disobeyed    orders,  you  rascals!"  was  his 

characteristic  reply.     He  seemed   to  have  no   sympathy   for  so 
irregular  a  movement  on  the  part  of  Volunteers. 

Perhaps  it  can  never   be  ascertained  exactly  what  flag  was 
first  over  the  parapet,  so  nearly  together  did  many  of  the  regi- 


530  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

ments  struggle  on  to  the  ridge;  but  of  our  part  of  the  line, 
our  color-bearer  says  the  22nd  Indiana  was  first,  while  he  was 
second,  and  declares  if  he  had  been  without  his  overcoat,  he  would 
have  been  first,  and  the  88th  we  know  was  close  by.  Lieut. 
Hemingway  and  Sergt.  Hall,  Company  E,  were  the  first  to  reach 
the  New  Orleans  Battery  and  demand  the  surrender  of  the  guns. 
The  charge  was  full  of  personal  incidents,  some  of  which  must 
be  put  on  record. 

First,  must  be  mentioned  Col.  Miller,  whose  gallant  conduct 
drew  the  attention  that  day  of  his  superior  officers,  even  to  Gen. 
Thomas,  the  Department  Commander.  B.  F.  Taylor  says : 
"  A  division  general  turned  abruptly  to  me  with,  '  If  you  write 
anything  about  Wednesday's  affair,  as  you  will,  don't  forget 
Col.  Miller,  of  the  36th  Illinois — one  of  the  most  gallant  little 
fellows  that  ever  drew  a  sword.'  I  did  not  need  the  injunction, 
for  Col.  Silas  Miller  rode  through  the  storm  to  the  summit  of  the 
ridge,  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  like  a  veteran,  inspiring  his 
men,  till  the  little  36th  was  a  phalanx  of  heroes.  The  Colonel 
used  to  be  adjutant  of  types,  and  lead  a  column,  now  and  then, 
in  the  old  days,  and  true  to  his  early  love,  he  headed  a  column  at 
Mission  Ridge."  The  horse  he  rode  that  day  was  not  his  own — 
which,  with  the  other  regimental  horses,  had  been  sent  to  the 
head  of  the  Sequatchie  Valley  to  be  near  forage — but  an  inferior 
gray  horse,  which  he  used  in  emergencies.  He  did  not  dismount, 
but  through  all  that  long  and  perilous  charge  of  over  an  hour,  in 
the  teeth  of  every  kind  of  deadly  missile,  he  kept  his  seat,  mov 
ing  one  direction  and  then  another,  rallying  his  deini-brigade 
and  inspiring  every  officer  and  man.  His  enthusiastic  nature  was 
wrought  up  to  its  highest  pitch,  making  him  all  unconscious  of 
personal  danger,  and  giving  to  his  very  language  an  exalted  tone, 
which  astonished  himself  in  cooler  moments.  As  he  moved 
about  from  one  point  to  another,  he  came  upon  a  man  sheltering 


COL.    LEIBOLD    OF   MISSOURI.  531 

and  resting  himself  behind  some  covering.  He  struck  him  a 
smart  blow  with  the  flat  side  of  his  drawn  sword,  and  pointing  to 
the  top  of  the  ridge,  he  cried  out,  "Excelsior!" 

There  was  a  young  fellow  who  had  disgraced  the  regiment  by 
cowardice  at  Chickamauga,  and  Col.  Miller  had  threatened  to 
have  him  court  martialed,  but  permitted  him  to  go  into  this  fight 
to  redeem  himself,  with  the  understanding  that  if  his  cowardice 
was  repeated,  he  would  suffer.  He  went  in ;  stood  his  ground, 
and  was  wounded  in  the  hand.  He  was  so  overjoyed  that  he  ran 
to  the  Colonel  and  showed  his  wound  with  all  the  pride  he  might 
have  felt  if  he  had  been  promoted. 

Side  by  side  with  the  First  Brigade  moved  the  Second,  a  por 
tion  of  it  under  the  command  of  Col.  Leibold,  of  the  2nd  Mis 
souri.  Near  the  beginning  of  the  ascent  he  was  wounded  in  his 
left  hand,  and  two  fingers  were  shot  away.  Lieut.  Hemingway, 
Company  E  of  the  36th,  was  close  by  and  saw  him  holding  up 
his  bleeding  hand,  exclaiming,  "  Shust  see  dhat !  I  gives  dree 
kegs  lager  peer  if  dem  fingers  shust  comes  back  on  mein  hand 
again."  On  he  went,  however,  his  hand  dripping  blood  over  his 
clothes  and  making  him  a  most  unsightly  object.  On  reaching 
the  top  he  spied  a  Rebel  officer  near  by  and  demanded  his  sword. 
The  officer  haughtily  replied,  "  Sir,  I  am  a  Colonel  in  the  Confed 
erate  army  and  commander  of  a  brigade,  and  desire  to  surrender 
my  sword  to  an  officer  of  equal  rank.  What  rank  are  you,  sir?" 
Col.  L.,  who  was  covered  with  dirt  and  blood,  and  looked  as  rough 
as  a  private,  replied,  "  Ah,  you  bees  a  Colonel  and  commands 
von  prigade  ha  !  Vel,  I  does  dat  peesness  meinself  sumdimes. 
You  givs  dat  sword  to  me  shust  now,  or  I  puts  mein  sword  through 
your  life  so  quick  as  von  minnit."  He  complied,  of  course,  and 
was  sent  a  prisoner  to  the  rear, 

Lieut.  Turnbull  adds  the  following  :  "  The  timber  on  the  side 
of  the  ridge  had  been  cut  down  and  formed  a  kind  of  abattis. 


532  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Some  of  the  Rebels,  on  retreating,  stopped  about  two-thirds  of 
the  way  up  the  ridge,  and  determined  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly 
as  possible.  The  36th  color-guard  lay  down  to  rest  behind  a  log, 
having  got  too  far  ahead  of  the  troops.  On  commencing  to  rise, 
the  Sergeant  in  charge  saw  a  man  with  a  musket  leveled  on  them 
only  a  short  distance  away.  'Lie  down,'  he  whispered  sharply 
to  the  boys.  They  did  so,  and  he  coolly  laid  his  musket  over  the 
log  in  front  of  him.  'Now,'  said  he,  '  show  him  your  knapsack.' 
The  color-bearer,  who  had  a  full  one  on  his  back,  rose  carefully 
on  all  fours,  exposing  only  his  knapsack.  The  Sergeant's  gun 
went  off.  '  Lie  down  again/  said  he.  He  reloaded.  '  Do  that 
again,'  said  the  Sergeant.  The  color-bearer  did  so,  and  the  Ser 
geant's  gun  went  off  again.  'Now,'  said  he,  w  we  can  go.'  One 
of  the  boys  fished  out  a  Mississippi  captain  among  the  logs.  He 
had  his  bayonet  fixed,  and  was  calling  on  the  captain  to  surrender. 
The  captain  was  jumping  first  one  way  and  then  another,  saying, 
'  Call  an  officer.'  The  soldier  responded,  '  I'm  officer  enough  for 
you  ;  surrender,  or  I  will  put  the  bayonet  through  you.'  I  was 
passing  along  and  said  I  would  receive  his  sword.  He  very 
quickly  gave  it  to  me,  remarking  that  we  were  certainly  very 
rough  to  prisoners.  I  answered  that  the  soldier  ought  to  have 
put  the  bayonet  through  him.  '  Why,  sir,'  said  he,  'what  do  you 
mean?  I  have  had  prisoners  in  my  charge  and  never  treated 
them  in  this  way.'  'Then,'  said  I,  'take  off  that  overcoat  you 
have  stripped  from  some  of  our  shivering,  wounded  comrades 
on  Chickamauga.'  The  poor  fellow  threw  it  off  quickly,  saying 
that  we  attacked  them  so  suddenly  that  he  forgot  to  take  it  off. 
I  made  him  take  the  coat  with  him  to  the  rear,  and  told  him  to 
trade  it  for  a  blanket." 

Among  all  the  noble  spirits  that  that  day  struggled  so  grandly 
for  their  country's  flag,  there  was  none  more  heroic  than  Walter 


BRAGG    SURPRISED    AND    MORTIFIED.  533 

V.  Reeder,  Company  C  of  the  36th,  who,  having  received  the 
wound  in  the  thigh,  of  which  he  died  in  about  two  weeks,  lay 
bleeding  on  the  hill-side,  and  taking  a  handkerchief  out  of  his 
pocket,  waved  it  towards  the  top  of  the  ridge,  silently  inspiring 
his  comrades  to  complete  what  he  had  so  gallantly  helped  to 
commence. 

To  Bragg  and  his  army,  and  the  whole  South,  this  defeat  was 
a  terrible  surprise  and  mortification.  Even  after  the  siege  was 
so  far  raised  that  he  could  not  hope  to  starve  us  out,  he  felt  so 
safe  from  any  attack,  that  he  did  not  hesitate  to  send  off  Long- 
street  and  other  forces  to  attack  Burnside,  and  in  his  official 
report  he  said  :  "  The  position  ought  to  have  been  held  by  a  skir 
mish  line,  against  any  assaulting  column." 

With  the  National  Army,  besides  the  combinations  of  military 
power,  there  were  forces  which,  when  they  come  upon  soldiers, 
seem  to  make  every  man  a  hero.  In  the  breasts  of  both  officers 
and  men  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  on  which  the  capture 
of  Mission  Ridge  devolved,  there  was  shut  up  a  fire  of  stern 
determination,  which  had  been  burning  silently  through  all  the 
weary  days  of  toil,  hunger  and  storm,  and  had  been  fed  by  hourly 
gazing  upon  the  white  tents  and  waving  flags  on  the  ridge  and 
the*  mountain.  There  was  the  knowledge  that  the  Army  of  the 
Potamac  had  re-inforced  them  on  the  right  and  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  on  the  left ;  there  was  the  bursting  forth  of  new  energy, 
which  came  with  the  successful  opening  of  the  battle  on  Monday, 
whereby  a  simple  reconnoisance  was  changed  into  a  substantial 
advantage.  Then  followed  the  forty-eight  hours  of  waiting  in 
this  advanced  position,  almost  under  the  shadow  of  the  ridge,  and 
looking  right  down  into  the  rifle  pits  of  the  enemy.  Under 
their  very  gaze,  Hooker  stormed  Lookout  so  gallantly  and  flung 
the  beautiful  flag  to  the  breeze,  and  Sherman  knocked  long  and 


534  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

loud  at  the  northern  gate  of  the  ridge.  On  that  memorable 
afternoon,  they  were  so  surcharged  with  inspiring  force,  and 
comprehended  so  clearly — more  clearly  even  than  their  com 
manders — the  crisis  that  was  upon  them,  that  they  needed  but 
the  sound  of  those  six  guns  from  Orchard  Knob  to  start  them  on 
a  race  of  life  and  death,  from  which  they  brought  back  what  was 
up  to  that  time  the  completest  victory  of  the  war. 

Besides  all  these  natural  agencies,  and  working  by  means  of 
them,  we  cannot  fail  to  recognize  the  power  of  that  Spirit  which 
breathed  on  men  of  old,  till  "  one  could  chase  a  thousand  and 
two  put  ten  thousand  to  flight;"  which  enabled  David  to  say  : 
"  By  Thee  I  have  run  through  a  troop,  and  by  my  God  have  I 
leaped  over  a  wall."  Indeed,  we  must  not  forget  that  the  plans 
which  finally  prevailed  were  not  the  ones  originally  laid,  and  the 
most  successful  movements  were  either  afterthoughts,  or  taken  with 
out  orders.  The  plan  of  this  series  of  victories  was  in  the  hands  of  a 
Higher  Power,  and  while  we  render  all  honor  to  wise  generals  and 
noble  men,  the  real  glory  belongs  to  Him  who  heard  the  cry  of  His 
people  and  had  mercy  on  our  land.  Was  it  not  more  than  a  beau 
tiful  co-incidence,  that  the  loyal  people  everywhere  were  preparing 
with  unusual  devoutness  to  celebrate  the  first  Thanksgiving  to 
which  they  had  ever  been  called  by  Federal  proclamation,  and 
that  when  they  gathered  the  next  day  in  their  houses  of  worship, 
to  call  to  mind  the  abundant  mercies  of  this  never-to-be-forgotten 
year,  their  hearts  should  be  thrilled  with  a  new  and  everwhelm- 
ing  call  to  thanksgiving  ? 

Nor  was  it  alone  arnid  peaceful  congregations  that  devout  grat 
itude  was  felt  and  expressed.  The  journals  of  the  soldiers  show 
that  in  many  a  crisis  hearts  that  were  as  loyal  to  God  as  to  their 
country  were  lifted  in  prayer  for  help,  and  in  thanksgiving  for 
victory.  One  such  group  at  that  time  may  not  pass  unnoticed, 


CASUALTIES    AT    MISSION    RIDGE.  535 

the  more  as  he  who  led  the  devotions  in  less  than  one  month  had 
laid  down  his  life.  While  the  people  of  the  North  were  in  the 
midst  of  their  rejoicings ;  while  Fort  Wood  thundered  a  salute 
of  thirty-four  guns  ;  while  the  dead  were  being  buried  near  the 
ridge,  and  the  sufferings  of  the  wounded  were  being  assuaged, 
French  Brownlee,  Sergeant  Company  B,  Sergt.  McCoy,  J.  R. 
Henderson,  and  some  others  of  Company  C,  met  in  a  small  tent, 
and  after  singing  the  xxiu  Psalm  and  reading  the  xci  Psalm, 
were  led  in  prayer  and  thanksgiving  by  Brownlee. 

CASUALTIES  IN  THIRTY-SIXTH  AT  MISSION  RIDGE. 

COMPANY    A. 

Lieut   Leroy  Salisbury,  wounded  in  leg. 

COMPANY    B. 

Thomas  S.  Bowen,  arm  amputated;  Lewis  Olson,  face;  Edward 
Strait,  arm ;  Chris.  Zimmer,  nose. 

COMPANY    C. 

Sergt,  J.  A.  Pierce,  killed ;  L.  M.  Pike,  killed ;  Sergt.  J.  W.  McCoy, 
shoulder;  Sam.  Paxton,  foot;  Warren  Kinzie,  arm;  E.  E.  Munson, 
thigh;  W.  V.  Reeder,  thigh,  died  Dec.  12th;  E.  Sholtz,  leg  broken. 

COMPANY    D. 

Lieut.  S.  M.Abbott,  killed;  Sergt.  C.  H.  Thompson,  wrist,  W.  C. 
Kiiox,  heel. 

COMPANY    E. 

Ed.  Zellar,  wounded  six  times,  left  arm  amputated  ;  J.  E.  Moss,  leg 
broken;  L.  Shaffer,  left  arm;  C.  M.  Baker,  nose. 

COMPANY  H. 
Benj.  Alien    foot;  L.  Stanton,  foot;  S.  Gates,  head 

COMPANY    I. 

George  Beck,  hand;  Chris.  Mall,  head;  William  Freeze,  leg. 

COMPANY    K. 

James  Severance,  hand. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

EAST    TENNESSEE. 

'IGHT  closing  in  very  soon  after  the  ridge  was 
captured,  a  vigorous  and  organized  pursuit  was 
impossible.  The  force  which  held  the  north  end 
against  Sherman,  was  the  only  part  of  Bragg  s 
army  that  was  not  routed.  This  was  drawn  oft" 
in  good  order  after  night,  hut  the  rest  fled  pre 
cipitately,  and  the  roads  were  found  strewn  with  broken  wagons, 
caissons,  accoutrements  and  arms.  A  portion  of  Sheridan's 
Division  followed  in  pursuit  that  night,  but  the  36th  went  into 
bivouac  on  the  ridge.  They  were  delighted  to  fill  up  their  boxes 
with  English  cartridges,  of  which  they  found  abundance,  so  that 
when  Sheridan  ordered  eighty  rounds  to  a  man  to  be  served  out, 
they  were  found  supplied. 

At  one  o'clock  A.  M.  they  marched  in  pursuit,  halting  about 
two  miles  out  until  near  eleven  o'clock,  when  they  went  on  and 
formed  line  on  Chickamauga  Creek.  All  the  way  out  they  met 
bands  of  prisoners  and  deserters  coming  in,  as  many  as  one  hun 
dred  at  a  time.  Some  hurrahed  for  "  Coffee  and  sugar,"  some 
for  "  Chicago ;"  others  said,  "  Boys,  we  have  got  through  with 
our  fighting;  here  goes  for  home."  One  straggler  came  in  dur 
ing  the  night  to  enquire  for  the  5th  Georgia,  and  was  astonished 


TROPHIES  OF  THE  BATTLE.  537 

to  find  himself  surrounded  by  blue  coats  and  asked  to  surrender. 
Cannons  were  occasionally  fired  by  the  troops  ahead,  and  thick 
clouds  of  smoke  rising  betokened  the  burning  of  trains  and  sup 
plies.  At  three  o'clock  the  division  was  relieved  by  Baird's  and 
ordered  back  to  Chattanooga.  Arriving  at  the  ridge  before  sun 
set  they  saw  the  town  from  that  point  for  the  first  time  by  day 
light.  How  changed  the  condition  of  things  as  they  returned  to 
the  old  camp,  from  what  it  was  when  they  left  it  on  Monday ! 
Besides  all  other  advantages  the  material  gains  had  been  very 
great.  There  were  captured  six  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty- 
two  prisoners,  forty-two  guns,  sixty-nine  gun  carriages,  seven 
thousand  stand  of  small  arms,  beside  the  large  amount  of  supplies 
which  were  not  destroyed  by  the  enemy  in  its  flight. 

All  the  night  after  the  battle  and  all  next  day,  the  ambulances 
plied  back  and  forth  between  the  ridge  and  the  hospitals,  bearing 
their  loads  of  wounded  and  suffering  men.  Surgeon  Lytle  and 
his  assistants,  who  had  four  hundred  and  thirty- six  wounded  men 
in  charge,  were  indefatigable  in  their  labors — remaining  at  work 
all  night,  and  even  till  one  o'clock  the  next  night,  before  rest 
could  be  taken.  Their  fidelity  was  acknowledged  afterward  in  a 
complimentary  order  by  Medical  Director  Hewitt.  Many  of  the 
wounds  were  very  bad,  and  the  reduced  condition  of  the  men  in 
consequence  of  their  privations,  increased  the  unfavorable  symp 
toms.  Not  a  few  lingered  awhile,  only  to  die  at  last. 

Sheridan's  Division  had  returned  to  camp  to  prepare  for  the 
necessary  march  to  Knoxville.  Longstreet  had  already  gained 
some  advantages  over  Burnside,  whose  rations  would  hold  out 
only  to  Dec.  3rd,  and  Grant  felt  the  urgent  necessity  of  relieving 
him.  Granger's  Corps  was  ordered  to  move  at  once,  and  subse 
quently  Gen.  Sherman  was  put  in  command  of  all  the  forces  nec- 

35 


538  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

essary  to  make  the  expedition  a  success ;  in  all,  more  than  eight 
divisions  of  infantry,  besides  cavalry. 

The  36th,  with  Sheridan's  Division,  left  Chattanooga  on  Sat 
urday,  Nov.  28th,  about  one  o'clock,  after  a  heavy  rain,  which 
made  the  mud  ankle  deep.  They  marched  about  ten  miles  to  the 
east  of  Chickamauga  Creek,  crossing  on  Sherman's  bridge,  and 
went  into  camp  at  dark.  Next  day  they  reached  Harrison,  and 
on  the  30th,  after  marching  over  twenty  miles,  came  to  the  Hia- 
wassee,  over  which  they  were  ferried.  Here  they  found  the  steamer 
from  Chattanooga,  loaded  with  rations.  All  through  their  march 
they  found  the  people  friendly,  devoted  to  the  flag,  and  although 
it  was  so  cold  that  ice,  one  and  three-quarters  inches  thick,  stood 
in  the  sun  all  day,  women  and  children  remained  out  of  doors 
until  their  faces  were  the  hue  of  the  damask  rose. 

Next  day,  as  the  enemy  was  near,  three  companies  were  thrown 
out  as  advance  guard.  On  approaching  Decatur,  a  strongly 
rebellious  place,  Gen.  Sheridan  and  his  staff  charged  into  town. 
The  36th  was  made  provost  guard.  Their  camp  Avas  formed  on 
the  court  house  square,  and  the  men  stationed  as  guard  in  differ 
ent  houses  about  town.  There  was  but  one  Union  family  there. 
The  next  day  Gen.  Sheridan  expressed  himself  as  much  pleased 
with  the  regiment  in  the  performance  of  their  guard  duty,  and 
Lieut.  Col.  Olson  was  ordered  to  have  one  wagon  for  each  brig 
ade  loaded  with  salt  meat  taken  from  the  people.  That  day  they 
marched  seventeen  miles,  and  the  next,  eighteen,  camping  near 
Morgan  town.  On  the  4th  it  was  necessary  to  grind  corn  to  sup 
ply  food.  Some  of  the  boys  in  their  ramblings  fell  in  with 
a  young  woman,  who,  among  other  things,  had  to  tell  them  about 
her  sweetheart,  to  whom  she  gave  the  endearing  name  of  "June 
Bug."  On  the  5th,  the  troops  drew  rations  of  flour  and  mid 
dlings,  of  which  they  made  pancakes,  and  about  noon  crossed 


GENERAL    BURNSIDE'S    SITUATION.  539 

the  Little  Tennessee  on  a  trestle  bridge  built  by  Sherman's  troops. 
On  the  6th,  they  passed  through  Marysville  at  noon,  while  Gen. 
Sherman  and  Gen.  Granger  went  into  Knoxville  to  meet  Gen. 
Burnside.  Longstreet,  having  learned  of  Bragg's  defeat,  and 
realizing  that  his  time  was  short,  made  an  assault  on  Fort  San 
ders,  the  main  protection  of  Knoxville,  on  Sunday,  November 
29th,  but  was  repulsed  with  great  slaughter.  Knowing  that 
Sherman  was  near,  he  raised  the  siege  on  the  night  of  the  4th, 
and  retreated  towards  Virginia. 

On  Gen.  Sherman's  arrival  at  Knoxville,  he  found  a  large 
drove  of  cattle  in  a  pen  ;  Gen.  Burnside  comfortably  quartered 
in  a  mansion,  and  a  fine  dinner,  including  roast  turkey,  was  set 
upon  the  table.  It  was  found  that  at  no  time  had  Longstreet 
completely  invested  the  place  or  cut  off  all  communication  with 
the  Union  farmers  south  of  the  river — so  that  the  hardships 
endured  to  relieve  them  were  not  so  much  needed  as  was  sup 
posed.  Sherman,  having  accomplished  his  task,  left  Granger's 
Corps  to  aid  Burnside,  while  the  rest  of  the  troops  began  their 
return  to  Chattanooga. 

The  36th,  after  a  tedious  march,  and  some  counter-marching, 
went  into  camp  near  Knoxville,  at  nine  o'clock  P.  M.,  on  the  7th. 
Here  they  remained  until  the  12th,  with  very  limited  rations. 
On  the  9th,  the  boys  drew  a  half  slice  of  bread  apiece ;  went 
without  dinner,  and  just  at  dark  had  a  pint  of  corn-meal  and  a 
little  pork  for  each  man.  There  were  some,  however,  who  evi 
dently  did  not  rely  exclusively  on  the  army  ration,  for  on  the 
same  day  one  boy  wrote,  "for  breakfast  this  morning,  we  had 
sausage,  bacon,  potatoes,  honey,  molasses,  short-cake,  biscuit,  corn 
bread,  graham  bread,  wheat  bread,  etc.,  etc.  Bought  four  chick 
ens,  two  pies  and  a  pone."  Deserters  from  Longstreet  came  in, 
spreading  wild  stories  about  the  dispersion  of  his  troops.  The 


540  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

question  of  supplies  was  an  urgent  one,  and  on  the  12th,  the 
brigade  was  started  out  northeast  from  Knoxville,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  occupying  and  operating  the  various  mills  of  the  country. 
About  thirteen  miles  out,  the  88th  took  possession  of  a  mill. 
The  36th  marched  twenty  miles  to  Bratton's  Mill  on  the  Hol- 
ston,  where  they  staid  several  days,  other  regiments  of  the  brig 
ade  scattering  in  various  directions.  On  the  16th  they  started 
back,  arrived  in  Knoxville  about  noon  of  the  following  day, 
marched  to  the  depot  and  were  supplied  with  sixty  rounds  of  car 
tridge  per  man,  also  some  rations  of  hard  bread,  sugar  and  coffee, 
which  were  gladly  welcomed.  At  ten  o'clock  P.  M.,  they  took 
the  train  for  McMillen  Station,  and  next  day  started  out  to 
u  Elaine's  Cross  Roads,"  the  camp  which,  for  many  reasons,  will 
never  be  forgotten.  Here  they  remained,  with  the  usual  camp 
interruptions,  until  the  regiment,  having  re-enlisted,  started  home 
on  their  Veteran  Furlough. 

Gen.  Granger  was  by  no  means  a  favorite  with  the  troops. 
Although  personally  an  able  officer,  he  retained  that  contempt  for 
volunteers  and  subordinates  which  characterized  many  officers  of 
the  regular  army,  and  was  peculiarly  harsh  and  unfeeling  in  his 
treatment  of  the  men.  These  qualities  had  shown  themselves 
during  his  command  in  Mississippi,  and  when  he  was  placed  at 
the  head  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  it  can  not  be  said  that  he  was  wel 
comed.  On  the  march  for  the  relief  of  Knoxville,  he  maintained 
his  arrogant  demeanor  towards  those  with  whom  he  was  associ 
ated,  and  particularly  towards  private  soldiers;  inflicting  on  them 
barbarous  and  humiliating  punishments  for  neglect  of  duty  or 
infraction  of  military  etiquette.  Gen.  Sheridan,  prior  to  the 
Rebellion,  was  very  intimately  acquainted  with  Granger,  at  one 
time  serving  under  him  as  lieutenant,  and  the  familiarity  of  the 
past  was  in  a  measure  resumed. 


GEN.  SHERIDAN'S  HUMANITY.  541 

At  one  time,  after  a  soldier  belonging  to  Sheridan's  Division 
had  been  tied  and  inhumanly  beaten  with  a  rope's  end,  Gen. 
Sheridan  proceeded  to  Granger's  headquarters,  and  firmly  pro 
tested  against  such  punishments  being  inflicted  upon  his  men, 
stating  that  he  could  punish  those  under  his  command  himself,  if 
they  deserved  it,  without  any  interference,  and  among  other 
things,  said,  "  Sir,  if  you  had  seen  these  men  where  I  have  seen 
them,  and  been  with  them  in  the  face  of  death  as  I  have,  the 
thought  of  whipping  one  of  them  would  bring  tears  to  your  eyes, 
instead  of  harsh  upbraidings."  This  conversation  was  overheard 
by  a  36th  soldier  on  guard,  and  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  troops, 
still  more,  if  possible,  endeared  Gen.  Sheridan  in  the  affections  of 
his  men. 

At  this  camp,  in  the  very  wilderness,  the  mail  came  to  us 
twice.  Frank  Raymond  says  :  "Our  severest  trip  was  while  our 
command  was  in  East  Tennessee.  Our  depot  was  Chattanooga, 
and  we  had  a  long,  tiresome  and  exceedingly  dangerous  trip 
through  the  enemy's  country,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The  roads  were  in 
terrible  condition,  and  the  woods  were  infested  with  bushwhack 
ers,  but  fortunately  we  were  never  captured,  although  we  had 
some  very  narrow  escapes.  At  one  time,  I  remember,  I  was 
journeying  towards  Knoxville  with  my  mail,  when  within  about 
thirty-five  miles  of  that  place  I  heard  a  horse  galloping  rapidly 
behind  me.  I  turned  in  my  saddle  and  discovered  a  Rebel  cav 
alry  man  approaching  me.  It  was  too  late  to  run,  so  I  decided 
to  hold  my  ground  and  take  the  consequences.  He  galloped  up 
to  my  side  and  spoke  to  me,  and  soon  satisfied  my  fears  by 
informing  me  that  he  was  a  Federal  spy  and  that  his  name  was 
Carter  ;  that  his  father  was  an  old  Baptist  preacher,  living  some 
twenty-six  miles  south  of  Knoxville,  towards  which  place  we 


542  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

journeyed  together.  That  night  he  showed  me  his  papers,  signed 
by  Gen.  Burnside,  and  next  day  we  rode  into  Knoxville.  I  felt 
very  proud  of  my  prisoner  as  we  rode  by  the  picket  guard,  but 
as  he  had  a  pass  from  Gen.  Burnside,  while  mine  was  only  signed 
by  Gen.  Sheridan,  I  concluded  not  to  turn  him  over  to  the 
authorities,  al though  he  did  wear  a  Confederate  uniform." 

On  the  21st,  Major  Sherman  started  for  Illinois  in  command 
of  a  recruiting  party,  to  fill  up  the  thinned  ranks  of  the  old 
regiment.  On  the  23rd,  a  falling  tree  laid  the  headquarters  tent 
level,  but  fortunately  no  one  was  hurt. 

Christmas  was  a  dull  day.  About  the  time  that  the  stockings 
were  emptied  at  home,  the  boys  were  choking  and  crying  over 
the  smoke,  trying  to  get  warm.  Silas  Dyer,  who  for  the  first 
time  was  sick  in  hospital  at  Knoxville,  says  :  "  Self  and  com 
panion  managed  to  get  a  couple  of  stuffed  chickens  for  a  Christ 
mas  dinner,  prepared  by  an  Ethiopian  cook.  Towns-people 
appear  to  enjoy  it  hugely,  but  we  '  can't  see  it.'  ' 

On  Tuesday,  the  29th,  the  Chaplain  and  Assistant  Surgeon 
Hatch  arrived  in  camp.  The  Chaplain  had  not  been  with  the 
regiment  since  leaving  it  just  before  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge. 
After  reaching  Illinois,  he  visited  Aurora,  Elgin,  Oswego,  Bris 
tol,  Newark,  etc.,  seeing  many  of  the  families  of  the  men,  and 
distributing  the  money.  He  also  gave  some  public  addresses, 
describing  the  condition  and  prospects  of  the  army  and  showing 
the  hardships  which  they  had  suffered  in  the  siege.  Everywhere 
the  proposition  to  send  a  supply  of  socks  and  mittens  to  the 
regiment,  as  a  greeting  from  friends  at  home,  met  with  a  hearty 
response,  and  within  a  few  days  money  enough  was  placed  in  his 
hands,  the  socks  and  mittens  were  purchased,  and  he  started  back 
with  his  huge  box  filled  to  the  utmost.  It  was  a  very  difficult 
task  to  secure  transportation  for  it,  especially  from  Louisville, 


THE    DIVISION    HOSPITAL.  543 

and  only  by  the  most  persistent  and  personal  attention  could  it 
be  brought  along.  At  last,  however,  arriving  at  Stevenson,  he 
found  Quartermaster  Sutherland  with  his  train,  who  took  it  in 
charge  and  in  due  time  delivered  it  at  Chattanooga.  About  noon, 
December  12th,  the  Chaplain  arrived  at  the  division  hospital, 
which  was  in  charge  of  Surgeon  Lytle,  who  insisted  he  should 
remain  and  assist  him  with  the  wounded  men  instead  of  joining  the 
regiment.  As  it  was  yet  uncertain  whether  they  would  not  come 
back,  he  consented  to  do  so,  and  for  two  weeks  gave  his  time  to 
the  hospital.  The  building  was  a  very  large  one,  built  like  a 
huge  barn,  three  stories  high.  It  had  been  erected  by  the  South 
when  Chattanooga  was  their  principal  base.  Here  Surgeon 
Lytle,  with  his  assistants,  were  hard  at  work,  while  Steward  J. 
C.  Denison  had  charge  of  the  supply  department.  Besides 
what  was  furnished  by  Government,  the  Sanitary  arid  Christian 
Commissions  were  now  accumulating  large  stores,  both  of  cloth 
ing  and  food  suitable  for  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  our  hospital 
was  treated  with  great  liberality  and  kindness  by  these  agencies. 
It  is  simply  impossible  to  overrate  the  benefits  derived  by  our 
army  from  these  institutions,  which  helped  save  thousands  of 
valuable  lives,  besides  mitigating  much  suffering.  Like  all  hos 
pitals  of  such  a  size,  this  one  afforded  some  curious  illustrations 
of  the  freaks  which  are  sometimes  played  by  the  deadly  missiles, 
as  well  as  the  wonderful  endurance  of  the  men.  Surgeon  Lytle 
kept  full  reports  of  forty  cases  of  special  interest.  One  man 
lived  twenty-five  days  after  a  ball  had  passed  almost  through  the 
centre  of  the  brain;  could  sit  up  on  the  side  of  his  cot,  and 
lived  four  days  after  the  right  carotid  artery  had  been  tied. 

In  the  various  wards  of  this  hospital,  services  were  held  from 
time  to  time,  as  opportunity  offered.  Sometimes  in  the  evening, 
when  all  work,  dressing  wounds,  etc.,  had  ceased,  Scripture 


544  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

was  read,  a  hymn  sung  and  prayer  offered,  and  on  Sabbath,  a 
short  discourse  was  preached  in  each  room.  A  large  quantity  of 
reading  matter  was  also  distributed.  Many  interesting  incidents 
occurred,  bringing  out  the  religious  feelings  of  the  men.  Imme 
diately  after  his  arrival,  the  Chaplain  looked  up  the  wounded  of 
the  36th ;  found  W.  Reeder  hopeful,  and  apparently  doing  well, 
but  that  night  he  was  sent  for  to  visit  him,  as  he  was  fast  sink 
ing.  He  spoke  most  confidently  of  his  trust  in  Christ,  and,  as 
on  the  battle-field,  he  was  now  ready  for  death  in  the  hospital. 
During  the  night  he  passed  away,  and  was  buried  in  the  National 
Cemetery,  on  the  14th. 

The  men,  in  the  midst  of  their  sufferings,  were  enthusiastic  in 
their  accounts  of  the  battle,  and  never  tired  of  detailing  the 
events  of  that  memorable  day.  One  man,  Sergt.  Hough,  Com 
pany  H,  15th  Indiana,  gave  a  most  graphic  account  of  his  being 
shot  down  on  the  side  of  the  ridge,  and  as  he  lay  there,  bleeding 
from  a  cut  artery,  realizing  that  he  must  have  help  at  once,  or 
die,  he  lifted  up  his  heart  to  God  and  prayed  for  his  life,  prom 
ising  to  devote  himself  to  His  service.  Almost  immediately, 
some  men  with  a  stretcher  were  directed  that  way ;  found  him, 
stopped  the  bleeding  and  had  him  conveyed  to  the  hospital. 
"  Now,"  said  the  Chaplain,  after  he  had  finished  his  exciting 
account,  "  don't  you  think  you  ought  to  keep  your  vow  ?"  "  Yes, 
I  do,"  he  said.  "  Well,  will  you  ?"  u  Yes,"  said  he  "  I  will." 
Prayer  was  offered,  in  which  he  joined,  and  as  he  was  visited 
from  day  to  day,  he  gave  evidence  that  he  had  become  truly  pen 
itent,  and  was  filled  with  quiet  and  holy  peace.  He  continued 
to  be  as  enthusiastic  as  ever  about  the  battle,  but  spoke  of  him 
self  in  humble  and  broken  accents.  He  seemed  particularly 
grateful  as  he  remembered  the  prayers  and  anxieties  of  his  lov 
ing  wife,  who,  he  said,  had  never  ceased  to  pray  for  him  and  his 


FKENCH   BROWNLEE   DIES.  545 

conversion  for  fourteen  years,  "and  now,"  said  he  pointing  to  the 
stump  of  his  amputated  limb,  "  she  won't  think  anything  of  this 
when  she  learns  that  I  am  a  Christian."  At  his  request  a  letter 
was  written  to  his  wife,  giving  a  full  account  of  his  escape  and 
experience.  He  continued  to  grow  more  earnest  in  spirit  as  he 
improved  in  health,  and  there  was  every  prospect  that  he  could 
soon  be  sent  North,  but  on  the  Chaplain's  return  from  East  Ten 
nessee,  he  found  that  the  severe  weather  of  the  first  week  in  Jan 
uary  proved  too  much  for  his  reduced  system,  and  he  had  been 
dead  some  days. 

French  Brownlee's  condition  had  been  growing  rapidly  worse 
for  some  time.  Efforts  were  made  by  Col.  Miller  and  the  surgeons, 
to  obtain,  first,  a  furlough,  and  then,  to  procure  his  discharge; 
but  owing,  perhaps,  to  the  confusion  incident  to  so  many  military 
movements,  it  seemed  impossible  to  get  papers  through  the  regu 
lar  channels.  The  hope  of  returning  home  kept  him  up  for 
awhile,  but  at  last  he  sank  rapidly  and  died  on  Christmas  day  ; 
very  soon  after,  his  discharge  arrived.  He  was  a  man  whose 
stern  integrity  and  unblemished  character  made  him  highly 
respected  by  officers  and  men. 

Mittens  and  socks  were  distributed  among  all  the  men  of  the 
regiment  who  were  in  Chattanooga,  and  on  Saturday,  the  26th, 
after  making  every  effort  to  obtain  transportation  for  the  remain 
der,  but  without  avail,  the  Chaplain  started  for  the  regiment. 
Travel  at  that  time  was  anything  but  a  luxury.  The  boat  was 
about  destitute  of  accommodations  for  passengers.  The  rain  fell 
in  torrents,  and  at  Loudon,  the  only  refuge  while  waiting  for  the 
train,  was  in  a  cabin  occupied  by  the  most  primitive  of  human 
beings — girls,  and  even  children,  smoking  and  chewing  tobacco. 
On  the  train,  he  had  the  novelty  of  stopping  occasionally  while 
a  detail  of  men  went  out  to  chop  and  bring  in  wood  for  the 


546  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

engine.  At  Knoxville,  he  stayed  in  the  cars  all  night,  taking  a 
wash  next  morning  in  a  pond  near  Fort  Sanders.  At  Straw 
berry  Plains  were  found  some  of  the  36th  and  a  horse,  and  he 
reached  the  regiment  at  Elaine's  Cross  Roads  on  Tuesday,  29th, 
bringing  the  first  printed  account  received  of  the  battle  of  Mis 
sion  Ridge. 

Not  only  were  rations  scarce  at  this  camp,  but  we  had  the 
additional  annoyance  of  receiving  a  supply  of  flour  made  of 
"  sick  wheat."  This  acted  as  an  emetic,  and  robbed  many  a  poor 
fellow  of  a  good  meal.  At  headquarter's  mess  the  Chaplain  and 
"Little  Doc."  were  both  sceptical  about  the  wheat,  not  having 
any  experience  with  it.  One  night  the  Chaplain  thought  it  best 
to  take  a  short  walk  away  from  camp,  not  to  meditate  or  star 
gaze,  but  to  part  writh  the  much  needed  supper  he  had  just  taken. 
He  soon  recognized  some  one  else  out  on  a  similar  errand,  who 
proved  to  be  "Little  Doc.,"  at  which  they  both  had  a  good 
laugh,  to  be  repeated  on  their  return  to  headquarters. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  year  the  regiment  went  out  foraging. 
The  day  was  rainy,  and  during  the  night  it  turned  to  a  storm, 
the  wind  blowing  so  hard  it  seemed  as  though  everything  would 
go  to  pieces.  In  the  afternoon  of  January  1st  the  troops 
returned,  almost  perished  with  cold.  The  strongest  men  were 
staggered.  During  the  night  the  men  could  not  sleep,  though 
they  wore  their  great  coats  and  had  huge  fires  built  in  front  of 
their  quarters.  The  only  way  to  endure  it  at  all  was  to  sit  or 
stand  close  to  the  fire,  and  then  they  would  burn  on  one  side  and 
freeze  on  the  other,  while  the  wind  blew  the  smoke  in  curling 
clouds  about  their  heads  and  made  them  almost  blind.  There 
were  some  whose  systems  never  recovered  from  the  shock  of 
those  terrible  days  and  nights.  Among  these  was  Lieut.  Bar- 
stow,  who  had  commanded  Company  G  after  Captain  Austin  was 


LIEUT.    BARSTOW'S    DEATH.  547 

wounded  at  Chickamauga.  In  the  notice  of  him,  published  after 
his  death  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  it  is  said:  "From  Mission  Ridge, 
badly  worn  by  many  previous  marches  and  skirmishes,  besides 
the  more  desperate  conflicts,  and  by  the  quarter  rations  of  Chat 
tanooga,  they  were  ordered  in  lightest  equipments,  with  all  speed, 
to  Knoxville.  It  was  there,  during  the  coldest  weather  known 
for  thirty  years,  hardly  protected  at  all,  as  the  necessities  of 
service  required,  that  he  took  a  most  violent  cold,  to  the  effects 
of  which  his  strong  constitution  finally  yielded.  He  made 
in  direct  marches,  as  his  own  private  record  shows,  over  seven 
thousand  miles."  "Dick"  was  a  faithful  soldier. 

On  Sunday,  January  3rd,  the  cold  moderated  enough  so  that 
it  was  possible  to  keep  warm  by  a  huge  fire  with  great-coats  on. 
In  the  afternoon  a  short  service  was  held,  at  which  the  Chaplain 
preached  a  New  Year's  sermon,  from  "  He  thanked  God  and  took 
courage." 

It  seemed  during  these  few  days  as  if  "Valley  Forge"  was 
being  repeated  in  this  wilderness,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say 
that  the  spirit  of  "Valley  Forge"  was  exhibited  by  the  36th, 
as  the  next  chapter  will  show. 


CHAPTER   XXXII 


RE-ENLISTMENT  AND  FURLOUGH. 

HE  reverses  of  the  enemy  during  the  summer 
and  fall  of  1863,  had  produced  a  profound 
depression  throughout  the  South,  and  the  defeat 
at  Chattanooga,  especially,  cast  a  gloom  over 
all  their  prospects.  But  they  were  not  slow  to 
perceive  that  there  were  elements  of  weakness 
on  our  side  which  might  eventually  work  to  their  advantage. 
Chief  of  these  was  the  important  fact  that  a  large  number  of 
our  best  troops  would  close  their  term  of  enlistment  during  the 
coming  summer  and  fall,  and  right  in  the  midst  of  the  campaign 
we  should  be  deprived  of  our  most  experienced  and  seasoned 
men.  When  to  this  was  joined  another  fact,  almost  equally 
important,  that  near  the  same  time  a  new  election  for  President 
must  be  held,  in  which  all  the  vexations  and  traitorous  opposi 
tion  to  the  Government  in  the  North  could  be  rallied  to  its 
embarrassment,  they  looked  with  confidence  to  see  the  reverses 
of  1863  turned  into  victories  in  1864.  Our  own  Government 
was  equal  to  the  emergency,  and  proposed  the  enlistment  at  once 
of  Veteran  Volunteers,  with  additional  bounties  and  one  month's 


DISCUSSING   RE-ENLISTMENT.  549 

furlough  and  opportunity  to  recruit  at  home.  It  was  soon  seen 
that  the  determination  to  put  down  the  rebellion  was  not  con 
fined  to  those  who  occupied  places  of  security  and  comfort,  but 
was  pre  eminently  felt  by  the  men  on  whom  the  hardships  of  the 
service  fell  most  severely.  Regiment  after  regiment  fell  into 
line,  and  during  the  next  few  months  the  different  States  were 
made  glad  as  they  welcomed  home  their  veteran  troops,  who  not 
only  recruited  their  ranks,  but  gave  such  moral  support  to  the 
national  cause  as  was  largely  felt  all  through  the  remainder  of 
the  wTar. 

It  was  at  Blame's  Cross  Roads  the  day  before  Christmas  that 
the  subject  of  re-enlisting  began  to  create  excitement  in  the  reg 
iment  ;  it  grew  rapidly  every  day.  They  reasoned  thus: 
We  are  in  until  next  fall  any  way,  so  that  probably  we  shall  have 
to  share  in  the  remaining  fighting.  If  we  re-enlist  now  it  will 
have  a  great  moral  effect  on  the  South,  who  are  counting  much 
on  the  old  regiments  going  out ;  we  shall  also  secure  the  bounty 
and  be  discharged  when  the  war  is  over.  In  addition,  it  is  most 
probable  that  many  of  us  will  re-enlist  next  fall  if  the  rebellion 
is  not  ended,  so  that  it  is  best  to  do  it  now.  A  private  letter 
written  at  the  time,  says,  "  The  singleness  of  purpose  to  see  this 
rebellion  put  down  which  characterizes  these  men,  is  such  as 
completely  surprises  me;  it  is  the  men,  not  the  officers." 

In  his  report  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  army,  the  Chap 
lain  wrote,  "  On  the  1st  of  January,  1864,  while  in  bivouac  at 
Elaine's  Cross  Roads,  East  Tennessee,  the  order  with  respect  to 
veteran  regiments  was  read,  and  a  large  number  of  those  present 
re-enlisted.  The  circumstances  under  which  this  was  done  are 
worthy  of  record.  They  had  formed  a  part  of  the  army  besieged 
in  Chattanooga,  and  had  borne  their  full  share  in  the  labors  and 
privations  of  those  trying  days.  Then  came  the  gallant  charge 


550  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

on  Mission  Ridge,  followed  by  a  rapid  and  arduous  march  to 
the  relief  of  Knoxville.  The  extremely  cold  weather  of  the  season 
closed  in  upon  them  in  the  mountain  regions,  with  scant  clothing 
and  rations,  and  the  rudest  of  shelter.  And  yet  no  hardships 
could  crush  their  devotion  to  the  cause,  for  in  full  view  of  the 
sufferings  and  trials  through  which  the  organization  had  passed, 
(nearly  five  hundred  of  the  original  number  had  been  killed  or 
wounded  in  battle)  they  pledged  themselves  as  veterans.  The 
scene  will  long  be  remembered,  where,  amid  mountain  wilds,  the 
smoke  of  the  camp-fires  was  hurled  in  every  direction,  making  it 
well  nigh  intolerable  to  remain  by  a  fire,  and  yet  the  atmosphere 
was  so  intensely  cold  that  when  standing  by  the  fire,  one  side  of 
the  body  was  scorched  and  the  other  almost  frozen.  The  ink 
with  which  the  enlistment  papers  were  signed,  froze  on  the  pen 
while  the  signer  was  using  it,  and  had  to  be  broken  off  in  solid 
ice  before  another  man  could  use  it ;  the  inkstand  in  the  mean 
time  being  only  kept  available  by  constant  contact  with  the  fire. 
All  honor  to  the  noble  men  of  many  regiments,  who  amid  such 
severities  still  gave  themselves  afresh  to  their  country's  salvation." 
To  this  should  be  added  two  sentences  taken  verbatim  from  the 
journal  of  Chas.  S.  Stiles,  Company  A,  written  at  the  time, 
and  worthy  of  "being  printed  in  letters  of  gold  : 
"THE  VETERAN  ENLISTMENT  PAPERS  WERE  FILLED  OUT  AND 

SIGNED   THIS    P.  M.        NO    RATIONS   TO-DAY.        TWO    EARS    OF 
CORN  WERE    ISSUED  THIS  EVENING  TO  EACH    MAN." 

The  44th  Illinois  was  re-enlisted  at  the  same  time,  and  it  was 
reported  that  the  regiment  which  should  procure  the  requisite 
number  of  names  first  would  be  allowed  to  go  home  first.  As 
the  work  approached  completion,  long  after  dark,  the  excitement 
grew  intense ;  each  regiment  having  scouts  out  to  watch  the 
movements  of  the  other.  The  36th  came  out  ahead,  but  it  was 


MOVEMENTS    OF    THE    VETERANS.  551 

afterward  decided  to  draw  lots,  which  was  done  January  5th 
— the  36th  being  the  winner.  Accordingly  next  morning  all  the 
veterans,  bidding  farewell  to  their  comrades,  who  were  assigned 
temporarily  to  the  88th,  started  for  Chattanooga,  and  after  a 
march  of  eighteen  miles,  arrived  at  Knoxville  at  4  p.  M.  Next 
day  they  took  the  cars  for  Loudon,  where  they  remained  until 
Sunday,  10th.  Here  they  sought  refuge  from  the  severe  weather 
in  log  barracks,  and  were  gratified  on  the  9th  by  the  appearance 
of  the  box  of  socks  and  mittens,  which  had  been  delayed  so  long. 
Distribution  was  made  to  all  present,  and  the  rest  were  shipped 
to  the  boys  now  with  the  88th,  where  they  arrived  on  the  14th. 
On  the  10th,  the  march  was  resumed  by  way  of  Kingston,  and 
the  old  camp  at  Chattanooga  reached  on  Friday,  the  15th. 

In  crossing  on  the  ferry  at  Kingston,  the  headquarter's  wagon 
slipped  into  the  river,  soaking  all  the  baggage.  All  who  were 
unable  to  march  were  sent  down  on  the  boat.  They  had  a  hard 
trip;  ran  aground  several  times;  broke  their  rudder;  stove  in 
the  boat ;  changed  off  to  another ;  had  to  march  several  miles 
round  the  shoal  water,  and  to  crown  all,  having  laid  in  provisions 
for  only  one  day,  were  out  three,  and  came  near  starving — many 
being  glad  to  gather  ears  of  corn  from  the  shore  and  eat  the 
kernels. 

The  next  two  weeks  were  spent  in  making  up  the  "  muster 
out  "  and  "  muster  in  "  papers  of  the  men,  and  in  closing  up  all 
regimental  business.  The  opportunity  was  also  seized  by  many 
to  visit  Lookout  and  Missionary  Ridge  and  review  the  scenes  of 
the  late  conflicts.  As  we  looked  down  from  that  lofty  height 
upon  all  the  encampments  of  Chattanooga,  it  seemed  wonderful 
that  Bragg  did  not  make  a  better  use  of  his  points  of  obser 
vation. 


552  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Services  were  held  with  the  regiment  and  in  the  hospital  each 
Sabbath,  and  on  the  24th,  after  the  sermon,  several  addresses 
were  made,  in  view  of  their  starting  for  home  the  next  week. 
The  Chaplain  called  attention  to  the  need  of  caring  for  their 
health,  which  could  not  fail  to  be  affected  by  their  change  of 
habits ;  and  also  to  the  necessity  of  safely  investing  the  large 
sums  of  money  which  would  be  paid  them,  and  which  had  cost 
them  so  much  that  it  ought  not  to  be  wasted.  Especially  he 
urged  them  to  care  for  their  character  and  morals,  lest  their  noble 
record  should  be  stained,  and  the  joy  and  pride  of  their  friends 
should  be  turned  to  shame.  Col.  Miller  followed,  enforcing  these 
thoughts  and  insisting  on  the  maintenance  of  discipline  through 
out  the  trip.  Lieut.  Olson  also  spoke  in  the  same  strain,  and 
much  was  done  to  counteract  the  temptations  which  would  be 
placed  in  their  way. 

On  the  25th  they  were  mustered  into  service.  On  the  27th 
they  were  paid  off,  finishing  at  11  P.  M.,  and  next  morning  had 
breakfast  at  three  o'clock  ;  turned  over  camp  and  garrison  equi 
page,  and  at  six  o'clock  left  Chattanooga  on  the  cars  for  home. 
They  arrived  at  Stevenson  next  day  at  noon,  and  at  Nashville  at 
eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  of  the  29th.  Leaving  there  at  seven  A.  M., 
of  the  30th,  they  arrived  in  Louisville  at  five  P.  M. 

So  many  veteran  regiments  had  passed  through  this  city,  that 
the  storekeepers,  and  especially  the  clothing  merchants,  had 
learned  what  a  golden  harvest  could  be  reaped  from  men  who  had 
been  so  long  away  from  civilization,  and  they  were  not  slow  to 
take  every  advantage  possible.  They  had  runners  out,  who  met 
the  regiment  as  soon  as  it  arrived;  learned  its  number  and  some 
of  its  history,  and  then  were  loud  in  its  praises — imposing  on 
many  an  unsuspecting  victim,  who  was  persuaded  to  buy  poor 
clothing  at  high  prices. 


ARRIVAL    IN    CHICAGO.  553 

Leaving  Jeffersonville  at  three  P.  M.,  Monday,  February  1st, 
they  reached  Indianapolis  next  morning,  and  Chicago  at  midnight 
of  the  2nd.  They  were  assigned  quarters  at  the  Randolph  Street 
Market. 

The  ladies  of  the  Soldier's  Home  were  prepared  to  welcome 
all  returning  regiments,  and  expressed  the  greatest  regrets  that 
they  had  not  been  informed  of  the  coming  of  the  36th,  so  that  even 
at  that  untimely  hour,  a  good  meal  might  have  been  ready.  A 
most  sumptuous  dinner  was  provided  next  day  at  Bryan  Hall,  to 
which  the  regiment  sat  down,  and  after  the  "  squarest  of  square 
meals,"  an  enthusiastic  welcome  to  the  State  was  given  in  a 
noble  speech  by  Thos.  B.  Bryan,  Esq.  ;  responded  to  by  Col. 
Miller  and  the  Chaplain,  and  followed  by  some  ladies  with  sing 
ing.  They  all  insisted  we  should  come  back  to  breakfast  next 
morning,  when,  after  a  most  bounteous  entertainment,  the  ladies 
sang  once  more,  and  the  boys  sang  some  patriotic  airs.  The 
Governor  also  sent  a  congratulatory  telegram  to  the  regiment 
through  Col.  Miller. 

The  time  was  occupied  until  Friday  morning,  the  5th  of  Feb 
ruary,  in  making  out  furloughs,  which  being  distributed  in  time 
for  the  morning  trains,  the  different  companies  started  out  on  the 
C.  B.  &  Q.,  the  Galena  and  the  Rock  Island  Railroads.  Five 
companies,  B,  C,  E,  F  and  I,  went  out  to  Aurora,  where  they 
were  welcomed  by  the  firing  of  cannon,  the  cheers  of  a  multi 
tude,  and  afterwards  sat  down  to  a  sumptuous  dinner,  followed 
by  speeches.  Companies  D  and  G  were  similarly  entertained 
at  Morris,  and  others  at  their  destination. 

The  six  weeks  which  elapsed  before  the  regiment  started  again 
for  the  front  were  all  too  short  for  the  enthusiastic  reception 
which  the  men  everywhere  found.  The  ladies  of  every  city, 
village  and  rural  neighborhood  seemed  to  have  the  most  lively 

36 


554 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


recollections  of  the  starvation  times  in  Chattanooga,  for  they  vied 
with  each  other  in  piling  their  provisions  in  mountainous  ridges, 
before  which  even  the  heroes  of  "  Mission  Ridge"  were  staggered 
and  beaten  back.  Indeed  their  movement  might  very  properly 
be  termed  "  the  bread  and  butter  campaign,"  in  which  the  whole 
region  was  traversed  by  hungry  veterans  ;  in  which  there  were 
combined  and  deadly  assaults  in  the  cities,  heavy  skirmishing  in 
the  country,  and  a  steady  running  fire  from  house  to  house,  until 
the  weary  soldier  could  almost  look  with  eager  longing  for  the 
hardtack  and  army  ration  of  the  front.  Besides  the  reception 
at  Aurora,  there  were  large  gatherings  at  Elgin,  Morris,  Oswego, 
Lisbon,  etc.,  at  which  addresses  were  made  by  Col.  Miller,  Lieut. 
Col.  Olson,  the  Chaplain  and  others,  in  which  the  most  patriotic 
toasts  were  given  and  songs  sung.  As  one  of  our  comrades  had 
been  unfitted  for  service  by  reason  of  his  wounds,  what  could  he 
do  better  at  this  time  than  write  us  a  song  in  honor  of 
"  OUR  FLAG" 

DEDICATED  TO  THE  36TH  ILLINOIS,  BY  J.  L.  DRYDEN. 


AIR — "  The  Bonnie  Blue  Flag." 


Come,  beys,  a  song  for  our  own  flag, 

Our  colors  old  and  dear : 
Each  shred  and  tatter  time  hath  made, 

We  every  one  revere. 
Then  fling  it  once  more  to  the  breeze — 

Unfold  its  crimson  bars, 
And  let  our  friends  know  we  retain 
Our  galaxy  of  Stars. 

Chorus — Hurrah  !     Hurrah  ! 
For  freedom  far  and  wide  ; 
Hurrah  for  the  dear  old  flag, 
That  fills  our  hearts  with  pride. 

We've  rallied  'neath  its  ample  folds 

On  many  a  well  fought  plain  ; 
And  since  our  Country  calls,  we  go 

To  bear  it  up  again. 
And  never  since  by  loyal  hands 

'Twas  placed  within  our  trust, 
Has  that  old  flag  dishonored  been, 

Or  trailed  in  Rebel  dust. 
Chorus— Hurrah !  &c. 


At  Pea  Ridge  first  'mid  shot  and  shell 

It  waved  right  gloriously  ; 
And  many  'neath  its  colors  fell, 

And  died  for  Liberty. 
Then  next  at  Perry ville  it  rose 

'Mid  shouts  of  victory  ; 
And  waving  over  vanquished  foes, 

Kentucky  was  made  free. 
Chorus— Hurrah  !  &c. 

On  Murfreesboro's  stubborn  field 

We  see  it  next  displayed  ; 
Though  forced  by  numbers  once  to  yield, 

Our  trust  was  not  betrayed. 
But  high  aloft  'mid  carnage  dire, 

We  bore  its  flaming  bars, 
And  three  score  men  there  shed  their  blood, 

To  purify  its  stars. 

Chorus—  Hurrah  !  &c. 


POETICAL    EFFUSIONS    OF    THE   TIME. 


555 


Next  on  Chickamauga's  plain, 

It  faced  Virginia's  pride  ; 
Though  driven  back,  'twas  borne  aloft, 

And  Rebel  shells  defied. 
And  last  on  Chattanooga's  height, 

In  honor  'twas  upreared, 
And  proudly  waved  'till  Mission  Ridge 

Of  Dusky  Coats  was  cleared. 
Chorus — Hurrah  !   &c. 


Then,  boys,  we'll  ever  love  that  flag, 

Stand  by  it  firm  and  true  ; 
We'll  wipe  out  treason  from  our  land, 

And  traitor  hordes  subdue. 
Then  friends  at  home  will  look  with  pride 

On  those  time  honored  bars, 
And  bless  the  men  who  fought  and  died 

To  reunite  its  stars. 
Chorus — Hurrah  !  &c. 


To  this  shall  be  added  a  toast  and  reply,  and  song,  which, 
though  not  given  until  similar  occasions  several  years  after,  may 
well  be  recorded  for  their  own  sake,  and  as  suggestive  of  the 
spirit  of  those  enthusiastic  gatherings.  The  first  were  given  at 
Monmouth,  on  the  occasion  of  a  reception  to  the  36th  and  83rd 
Regiments  : 

"  The  Ladies — Characterized  by  patriotic  deeds  and  loyal 
sentiments  ;  remembered  as  our  country's  warmest  friends  and 
the  soldiers'  truest  allies  ;  admired  for  their  personal  charms  and 
womanly  graces  ;  and  loved,  because  our  mothers,  our  sisters  and 
our  wives  ;  praised  and  thanked  especially  for  this  generous  act, 
this  bounteous  dinner,  these  numerous  tables  so  well  spread,  these 
large  baskets  so  well  filled,  these  tidy  waiters  so  well  willed,  and 
tasty  cooks  so  well  skilled.  May  they  have  their  reward." 
Eliciting  the  following  response  by  Miss  Alice  Mitchell : 


We  thank  you  for  your  words  of  praise, 

Your  tones  of  kindly  greeting; 
And  bright  will  be  for  many  days, 

The  memory  of  this  meeting. 

Our  hearts,  whose  pulses  beat  so  high 
When  war's  grim  visage  frowned, 

Now  send  swift  praises  to  the  sky, 
And  peace  with  love  is  crowned. 

Heaven  bless  you,  soldiers  !  may  your  arms 
Which  struck  the  chains  from  others, 

Be  now  the  comfort  and  support 
Of  sisters,  wives  and  mothers. 


We  wish  that  you  may  never  have 
Than  this,  a  poorer  dinner  ; 

And  that  of  some  nice,  "  tasty  cook, 
You  soon  will  be  the  winner. 

We  read  your  fame  in  every  star, 

On  every  flag  recorded, 
And  feel  that  we  have  been  and  are 

Most  gloriously  rewarded. 


556 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 


WELCOME  HOME. 


The  following  poem  was  written  by  a  lady  in  Lisbon,  and  read 
at  the  reception  of  Company  D,  36th  Illinois  Veteran  Volun 
teers,  in  that  village. 

And  now  we  meet  together, 
The  friends  ye  knew  of  yore, 

To  welcome  sons  and  kinsmen 
To  your  prairie  homes  once  more. 

Yet  if  some  lip  should  quiver, 
And  tears  should  dim  some  eye, 


Home  again,  home  again, 

Soldiers  brave  and  true  ; 
Loyal  hearts  are  gathered 

Now  to  welcome  you. 
Forth  ye  went  to  combat, 

At  your  country's  call, 
Shrinking  not  from  danger, 

Though  each  one  might  fall. 

On  the  field  of  battle, 

In  the  prison  cell, 
On  the  rugged  mountain, 

In  the  lowly  dell, 
Ye  have  stood  together, 

Ever  side  by  side, 
Bearing  on  your  colors 

With  a  soldier's  pride. 

There  were  lonely  marches 

'Neath  the  starless  sky, 
And  lonely  hours  of  watching 

That  saw  some  comrade  die. 
There  were  days  of  dreary  sorrow, 

There  were  nights  of  wretched  pain, 
When  ye  looked  across  the  gloomy  sky 

For  a  ray  of  light,  in  vain. 

O,  Brothers,  many  a  Northern  heart 

Went  with  you  on  your  way, 
And  many  a  Northern  heart  sent  up 

Its  prayer  by  night  and  day, 
That  God  would  guide  and  guard  you 

And  send  you  home  at  last — 
When  our  country  should  be  free  again, 

Her  hour  of  peril  past. 

At  all  these  gatherings  efforts  were  used  to  obtain  recruits  to 
fill  up  the  ranks.  Recruiting  offices  were  opened  at  Aurora, 
Elgin,  etc.  The  supervisors  of  the  different  counties  voted  to 
give  additional  bounties,  and  the  36th,  in  common  with  other 
regiments  at  home  at  the  same  time,  gathered  a  goodly  number 
of  recruits.  The  Chaplain  also  visited  several  prominent  places 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  delivered  addresses  to  large  audiences  on 
"The  moral  and  religious  aspects  of  the  war,"  seeking  to  stir  up 


Remember,  there  are  countless  graves 
Left  'neath  the  Southern  sky. 

Remember  ye  are  bringing 

Up  memories  full  of  pain — 
Of  fathers,  brothers,  lovers, 

Who  are  numbered  with  the  slain. 
Remember,  there  are  aching  hearts 

Still  bleeding  for  their  lost, 
Who  only  know  that  peace  was  bought 

At  such  a  fearful  cost. 

They  have  crushed  back  the  rising  sigh, 

And  dried  each  bitter  tear, 
And  join  with  us  in  giving 

To  you  a  welcome  here. 
And  'mid  loyal  words  of  greeting 

We  give  three  cheers  for  you, 
And  three  times  three  for  our  bonny  flag, 

The  old  Red,  White  and  Blue. 


LIST   OF   VETERANS   AND    RECRUITS.  557 

not  only  increased  interest  in  the  furnishing  of  men,  but  also 
in  their  religious  and  moral  welfare,  on  which  the  future  of  our 
country  so  much  depended. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Veteran  Volunteers  and  Recruits 
of  the  36th  Illinois  : 

COMPANY  A. 

John  W.  Aldrich.  Fenelon  J.  Nicholas. 

Leman  Bartholomew.  Walter  J.  Ordway. 

John  Bluckman.  Charles  Olsykwski. 

Jeptha  C.  Dennison.  Chandler  Preston. 

Henry  Ford.  George  L.  Peeler. 

Henry  Howe.  Augustus  Ritze. 

Charles  A.  Halsey.  Michael  Seisloff. 

Leverett  M.  Kelley.  Milton  S.  To\vnsend. 

Tobias  Miller.  Arzotus  White. 

Isaac  N.  Miner.  Homer  H.  Wilcox. 

Edward  Nute. 

RECRUITS. 

Charles  W.  Aldrich.  George  M.  Salisbury. 

William  Burke.  Francis  F.  Shaw. 

Richard  Cool.  William  Srnailles. 

Henry  E.  Deill.  John  F.  Scott. 

Albert  Deill.  Henry  Samis. 

Henry  Hains.  Otis  D.  Shaw. 

Joseph  D.  Ham.  Aaron  B.  Tice. 

Benjamin  F.  Lockhart.  William  H.  Winnegar. 

Charles  M.  Lytle.  Franklin  Webber. 

COMPANY  B. 

George  Berger.  Thomas  E.  Hornby. 

Rudolph  Brager.  Charles  E.  Henzie. 

Arba  Camp.  Owen  Hughes. 

Thomas  Clark.  Sidney  E.  Kendall. 

William  H.  Dugan.  Henry  B.  Latham. 

Daniel  Davis.  Robert  D.  Logan. 

John  W.  Edwards.  Elihu  Mahew. 

James  Eddy.  Peter  Pellican. 

Frederick  Emde.  VanWyck  Race. 

Joseph  McGee.  Charles  W.  Sears. 

John  Ott.  William  Schaffer. 

Edward  Pearce.  Fritz  Wilkinson. 

John  A.  Gronberg.  Charles  W.  Travis. 

Dorr  K.  Hodges.  Christian  Zimmer. 


558 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


Nelson  Esser. 
John  P.  Tuffee. 
John  N.  Jones, 
August  Meak. 

Joseph  W.  Arthurs. 
Daniel  P.  Baldwin. 
Isaiah  Baughman. 
William  P.  Criswill. 
Isaac  Carson. 
Harvey  P.  Donnell. 
James  Davis. 
John  Q.  Graham. 
David  H.  Henderson. 
David  S.  Irvine. 
Ethan  Keck . 
Warren  Kintzie. 
Henry  H.  Lord. 

James  C.  Arthurs. 
Abram  Y.  Arthurs. 
Joseph  A.  Allen. 
Thomas  F.  Baird. 
James  P.  Barten. 
Jamea  M.  Black. 
William  C.  Buchanan. 
Dexter  C.  Colby. 
Samuel  Carson. 
Robert  J.  Caldwell. 
Thomas  B.  Gormley. 
Harvey  P.  Harper. 
Robert  A.  Henderson. 
John  R.  Henderson. 
J.  H.  Hayes. 

Henry  F.  Birch. 
Lydon  K.  Bannister. 
James  A.  Baker. 
Charles  H.  Bissell. 
Seth  Darling. 
William  Duckworth. 
Nelson  Ericksou. 


RECRUITS. 

Henry  A.  Snell. 
Daniel  Terry. 
Peter  Thompson. 
Joseph  E.  Way. 

COMPANY  C. 

William  A.  Mitchell. 
George  N.  Mercer. 
Jacob  W.  Moss. 
Stephen  Matteson. 
Samuel  Paxton. 
John  A.  Porter. 
James  Ralston 
William  R  Toll. 
James  I.  Wilson. 
Samuel  W.  Wilson. 
John  Wilson. 
Ezekiel  Wimmer. 

RECRUITS. 

John  W.  Kitchen. 
Martin  E.  Kin^. 
George  H.  Knox. 
John  McL.  Lukes. 
Francis  T.  Mitchell. 
Samuel  A.  Markwell. 
Joseph  A.  Pollock. 
Thomas  R.  Pollock. 
William  A.  Rodgers. 
William  H.  Smith. 
Flavins  J.  Sawins. 
William  E.  Stewart. 
Jackson  Suodgrass. 
Julius  C.  Wright. 

COMPANY  D. 

Edward  Lars. 
James  M.  Lach. 
William  T.  Maycroft. 
Louis  R.  Seymour. 
Phillip  Stage. 
Joseph  Shaw. 
John  C.  Taylor. 


LIST   OF   VETERANS   AND   RECRUITS.  559 

COMPANY  D  CONTINUED. 

Alfred  H.  Gaylord.  Thor  Thorson. 

John  W  Graham.  Garrett  G.  Vreeland. 

John  Hier.  Andrew  F.  Wilsey. 

William  C.  Knox.  John  Wilson. 
Henry  T.  Kellam. 

BECKUITS. 

Joseph  Anderson.  Henry  S.  Langdon. 

Isaac  Ashalter.  Robert  McNoven. 

Edward  Anderson.  John  H.  Thompson. 
Timothy  A.  Burgess. 

COMPANY  E. 

John  W.  Alston.  Thomas  P.  Hill. 

James  H.  Alston.  Henry  Haigh. 

Christopher  M.  Baker.  James  S.  Hatch. 

George  W.  Beane.  Judson  W.  Hanson. 

Frederick  Beier.  Holvar  Hanson. 

Christ  Batterman.  Henry  Hennis. 

John  Bush.  William  Hall. 

Marcus  S.  Bushnell.  George  E  Lonsberry. 

Milton  E.  Cornell.  George  W.  Mathews. 

Patrick  Connor.  Amos  Norton. 

Edgar  S   Case.  Melancton  J.  Ross. 

Silas  F.  Dyer.  Walter  S.  Ralston. 

Charles  W.  Doty.  Robert  B.  Ralston. 

Uriah  Foster.  Thomas  P.  Titlow. 

RECRUITS. 

James  Allison.  William  H.  McKay. 

William  P.  Boyd.  William  Nichols. 

John  P.  Clegg.  Willis  Olmstead. 

Edwin  E.  Dyer.  William  G.  Peterson. 

Michael  Divine.  Ross  Seely. 

James  Hen n  ing.  David  Spencer. 

Joseph  Jenkinson.  James  C.  Stokes. 

William  Manton.  Myron  C.  Skinner. 

George  W.  Lannigan.  Ira  M.  Scofield. 

George  McHugh.  Henry  Webber. 

COMPANY  F. 

Lewis  E.  Belden.  Warren  C.  Massey. 

William  H.  Curtis.  Francis  A.  Mossman. 

Edwin  Dopp.  Walter  E.  Partridge. 

Gunner  Gunnerson.  William  J.  Pletch. 

John  Green.  John  H.  Roots. 


560 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


Oscar  P.  Hobbs. 
John  J.  Jordan. 
John  T.  Johnson. 
Alexander  Lipskey. 
William  McOlarey. 

Demetrius  W.  Cady. 
Lewis  fl.  Congden. 
Alexander  N.  Friland 
Lafayette  Price. 

Robert  R.  Bradshaw. 
George  M.  Birdsell. 
Peter  Buchanan. 
Robert  Brierly. 
Jesse  H.  Brown. 
John  Corkins. 
John  A.  Dispennet. 
Lewis  B    Dawson. 
Wallace  Ellis. 
Evan  Edwards. 

Francis  Carney. 
Jonathan  Foulk. 
Warren  Foulk. 
Ellis  W.  Hulsizer. 
Joseph  Hook. 
William  Mei. 


COMPANY    F    CONTINUED. 

Emra  Strait. 
Benjamin  Stevenson. 
Beigo  Thompson. 
Alfred  Tomlin. 
John  H.  Whitney. 

RECRUITS. 

Marshall  W.  Treeman 
James  Verbeck. 
Franklin  A.  Whitney. 
William  W.  Water?. 
COMPANY  G. 

John  S.  Fairman. 
William  S.  Gibson. 
Daniel  Hart. 
Joseph  Hebert. 
William  W.  Kerns. 
Newman  Perkins. 
James  Royds. 
William  F.  Severns. 
Job  Whybrow. 
Milton  G.  Yarnell. 

RECRUITS. 

Ebenezer  S.  B.  Northrup. 
James  Rafferty. 
Bryan  H.  Streeter. 
Henry  Wehr. 
Thomas  Williams. 


Lillburn  B.  Agnew. 
Horace  N.  Chittenden 
Samuel  Z.  Carver. 
Andrew  J.  Conroe. 
Charles  B.  Crawford. 
William  Carl. 
Day  Elmore. 
John  P.  Floyd. 
Thomas  Finlaysou.     ' 
Stephen  Gates. 
Madison  W.  Gould. 
James  A.  Hutchins. 

Henry  Alison. 
Elias  Bartlett. 


COMPANY  H. 

John  A.  Halderman. 
David  Hartman. 
Charles  W.  Irish. 
Myron  D.  Kent. 
Cassins  M.  Kimplin. 
Charles  II.  McDargh. 
John  Nemeyer. 
Nelson  B.  Sherwood. 
Frederick  Smith. 
Lavern  Stanton. 
Barent  VanNess. 


KECRUITS. 


John  Fox. 
George  Kingsbury. 


LIST    OF    VETERANS   AND    RECRUITS. 


561 


George  W.  Avery. 
George  Beck. 
D wight  G.  Cowan. 
Hobert  Doctor. 
James  F.  Ferris. 
Joseph  V.  Gentensburg. 
Henry  Hirse. 
Conrad  Larnichel. 
John  Lonigan. 
Hiram  Lowry. 


George  Case. 
John  Figgins. 
Martin  Highbrick. 
Michael  Kertiser. 
Zachariah  Lerindin. 
Jonathan  Moore. 
Henry  Mehlke. 
Michael  Manning. 

Harrison  W.  Blank. 
Seneca  Birdsell. 
Solomon  Emberling. 
John  M.  Gordon. 
Daniel  P.  Hammond. 
James  Hazelhurst. 
James  M.  Hogue. 
James  C.  Hogue. 
John  H.  Johnson. 
John  P.  Lenhert. 
George  Laker. 

Hiram  Bogardus. 
Lucien  Button. 
John  Dunn. 
John  Gannon. 
James  Guss. 
Zenas  E.  Hogue. 
M.  LaRue  Harrison. 
Edward  C.  Mulinix. 
Robert  C.  Moore. 
Adam  Mitchell. 


COMPANY  I. 

Samuel  Maul. 
Nicholas  Swichart. 
Andrew  Turner. 
Harvey  Tooley. 
Christopher  Thake. 
Bart  J.  VanVaulkenburg. 
Abram  V.  Wormley. 
Christ  Wentz. 
James  Wicks. 


RECRUITS. 

Charles  Meyers. 
James  D.  Powell. 
John  Roush. 
John  Shields. 
Isaac  P.  Smith. 
Jared  E.  Thomas. 
William  Tobey. 
John  E.  Watts. 
COMPANY  K. 

John  C.  Minkler. 
James  McCrarey. 
John  Poll. 
Simeon  Parsons. 
Emery  W.  Pratt. 
Robert  H.  Starr. 
Romain  A.  Smith. 
George  M.  Scales. 
Francis  Tewksbury. 
Charles  A.  Tucker. 
William  C.  Underwood. 


KECRUJTS. 


John  McFarland. 
Patrick  O'Connor. 
Lyman  K.  Powers. 
Peter  Parquette. 
Joseph  Richardson. 
Harlow  Slate. 
John  Tyler. 

George  A.  Underwood. 
Hiram  F.  Watkins. 
Arthur  W.  Wilson. 


CHAPTER   XXXIII. 

TO    THE    FRONT. 

JN  SATURDAY,  March  19th,  1864,  the  regi 
ment  fell  into  line  and  took  the  cars  for  Chicago. 
A  large  crowd  of  the  citizens  of  Aurora  greeted 
[them  with  their  cheers  and  adieus  as  the  train 
moved  out,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  well  under  way, 
a  copy  of  the  following  address  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  every  officer  and  man,  and  at  once  carefully  read  : 

To  the  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  "  Thirty- Sixth  Illinois:' 
Veteran  Volunteers : 

It  is  the  custom  of  many  wise  and  good  men  to  select,  at  inter 
vals,  some  brief  sentence  of  Scripture,  which  being  often  called 
to  mind,  may  serve  to  warn,  to  strengthen  and  direct  them. 

Allow  me,  at  the  commencement  of  your  new  term  of  service, 
to  present  to  you,  as  a  motto,  the  words  of  David  to  his  son 
Solomon  : 

"  SHOW    THYSELF    A    MAN  !" 

David's  eventful  life  was  drawing  to  a  close.  But  ere  he  left 
his  throne  on  earth  for  a  seat  in  heaven,  he  longed  to  give  such 
counsels  to  his  son  as  should  both  insure  his  personal  happiness, 
and  the  continued  prosperity  of  his  people.  Calling  Solomon 
into  his  presence,  he  said  (1  Kings  ii,  2j:  tkl  go  the  way  of  all 
the  earth;  be  thou  strong,  therefore,  and  show  thyself  a  man." 


"SHOW  THYSELF   A    MAN."  563 

All  he  could  wish  his  son  to  be ;  all  that  in  the  following  verses  is 
expressed  in  detail,  was  comprehended  in  these  four  brief  words. 
And  if  ere  we  move  again  to  the  front,  we  could  stand  before  the 
venerable  patriarch — at  once  the  greatest  captain,  statesman  and 
monarch  of  the  age — to  receive  from  his  lips  some  weighty  and 
pertinent  advice,  he  might  with  equal  propriety  say  to  each  and 
all,  "  Show  thyself  a  man." 

This  we  should  do  in  relation  to  ourselves,  our  country,  and 
our  God. 

I.  Ourselves. — Man's  first  and  chief  responsibility  is  for  him 
self;  and  no  amount  of  anxiety  for  others,  or  zeal  for  our  coun 
try,  will  atone  for  the  neglect  of  ourselves.     Our  immortal  souls, 
for  which  Christ  died,  must  be  watched  over  ;  the  evil  corrected, 
the  good  cherished.     Many  a  young  man  has  been  lured  into 
vice  by  the  insinuating  thought,  that  it  is  manly  to  indulge  in 
profanity,  intoxication  or  licentiousness ;  but  in  this  he  is  duped 
by  the  same  deceiver  who  taught  our  first  parents  that  though 
they  disobeyed  God,  "  they  should  not  surely  die."     To  resist 
vice,  not  yield  to  its  seductions,  is  the  mark  of  true  manliness. 
"  Greater  is  he  that  ruleth  his  own  spirit  than  he  that  taketh  a 
city."     Officers  and  generals  we  can  not  all  be,  nor  can  we  write 
our  names  conspicuously  on  the  roll  of  those  who  capture  cities 
and  lead  us  on  to  victory  ;  but  we  may  all  win  that  greater  glory 
which  attaches  to  resisting  sin   and   conquering  self.     In  this, 
then,  "  Show  thyself  a  man." 

II.  Our  Country. — Our  imperilled  country  called  for  help. 
You  sprang  promptly  to  her  relief.     You  are  now  engaged  in  a 
special  service  ;  one  which  for  the  right  performance  of  its  duties, 
requires  some  of  the  noblest  powers  of  manhood,  whatever  posi 
tion  be  assigned  you.     The  private,  as  truly,  if  not  as  conspicu 
ously,  as  the  highest  officer,  may  show  himself  a  man ;  for  fidelity, 
courage  and  patient  endurance  are  required  of  all.     In  this  special 
service  to  which,  for  a  while,  you  are  devoted,  u  quit  yourselves 
like  men."     Let  that  unquestioning  obedience  to  command,  so 
essential  to  military  success,  be  always  given — not  grudgingly, 
nor  simply  for  your  oath's  sake,  but  cheerfully,  like  men  who 


564  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

have  voluntarily  sacrificed  for  a  while  their  personal  freedom  to 
the  salvation  %  of  their  country.  Let  the  privations  and  hard 
ships,  inseparable  from  every  campaign,  be  met  with  a  manly 
fortitude,  knowing  that  he  who  calmly  endures  such  trials  is  as 
truly  a  hero  as  he  who  boldly  stands  in  the  face  of  the  enemy. 
Nay,  the  spirit  of  both  is  so  near  akin,  that  the  soldier  who  proves 
himself  the  true  man  on  the  march  is  never  found  wanting  on 
the  battle-field.  Carefully,  too,  abstain  from  those  lawless  prac 
tices  to  which  a  military  life  presents  so  many  temptations,  and 
by  which  some  soldiers  and  regiments  have  brought  a  stain  upon 
their  otherwise  fair  name,  which  even  gallantry  in  the  field  has 
scarce  sufficed  to  remove.  Remember  you  are  citizen-soldiers, 
whose  highest  hopes  will  not  be  realized  simply  in  the  subjuga 
tion  of  armed  forces  in  rebellion,  but  who  seek  to  implant  in 
Southern  soil  those  sacred  principles  of  freedom,  regulated  by 
law,  which,  whilst  desolation  reigns  in  the  theatre  of  war,  still 
keep  our  far-away  homes  the  abodes  of  peace  and  prosperity,  and 
which,  "when  this  cruel  war  is  over,"  shall  grow  until  they  lift 
their  branches  over  the  whole  land,  and  a  continent  shall  safely 
recline  beneath  their  shade.  Let  there  be  nothing,  then,  in  your 
conduct  which  shall  belie  this  sacred  mission,  or  make  those  you 
meet  misunderstand  your  aims. 

But  this  manliness  should  be  chiefly  shown — 

III.  Towards  G-od. — With  some  it  is  considered  manly  to 
scoff  at  religion,  and  boast  in  unbelief,  unmindful  of  the  fact, 
that  the  glory  and  service  of  God  was  the  chief  end  of  man's 
creation,  and  never  till  he  gives  himself  to  that  service,  making 
that  glory  his  supreme  desire,  does  he  attain  full  manliness. 
"  The  Christian  is  the  highest  style  of  man."  The  love  of  God 
restrains  and  purifies  the  love  of  self;  it  sanctions  and  strengthens 
the  love  of  country,  and  gives  to  the  character  a  stability  and 
glory  all  its  own.  To  be  true  men,  let  the  counsels  of  the 
Savior  be  heeded  ;  let  His  precepts  be  your  guide,  His  blood  and 
righteousness  your  only  refuge.  Rest  not  without  an  interest  in 
His  salvation. 


"SHOW  THYSELF   A    MAN."  565 

Would  you  look  on  one  in  whom  these  traits  of  manhood  were 
all  seen  ?  Remember  him  who  was  "  first  in  war,  first  in  peace, 
and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,"  while  even  now  each 
return  of  his  birth-day  makes  a  nation  glad.  Victorious  over 
self,  devoted  to  his  country,  consecrated  to  God,  he  stands  forth 
an  embodiment  of  true  manliness.  Called  to  live  in  times  the 
counterpart  of  his,  to  bear  in  your  degree  burdens  like  his,  need 
ing  the  very  qualities  which  in  him  shone  out  so  brightly,  let  his 
honored  memory  press  upon  each  the  exhortation  of  the  dying 
warrior  and  saint — "Show  thyself  a  man." 

You  are  surrounded  with  the  noblest  incentives  to  such  a  course. 
The  ever  brightening  prospects  of  our  country's  cause,  and  the 
certainty  of  its  speedy  and  final  triumph,  call  aloud  to  each 
defender — "  Show  thyself  a  man!" 

Our  glorious  old  flag,  soiled  and  battered,  but  never  dis 
honored,  waves  to  and  fro  in  the  breeze,  and  seems  to  say  to  every 
one — "Show  thyself  a  man!" 

The  intense  interest  felt  for  you  by  loving  hearts  at  home,  and 
the  earnest  prayers  ascending  ceaselessly  in  your  behalf,  come 
whispering  in  soft  and  winning  tones — "  Show  thyself  a  man  !" 

The  remembrance  of  the  glad  welcome  which  has  been  extended 
to  you  by  all  the  loyal  and  the  good,  testifying  the  honest  pride 
they  feel  in  your  achievements  and  devotion  to  country,  and  the 
desire  you  cherish  that  it  may  never  be  dashed  by  hearing  on 
your  lips  or  seeing  in  your  lives,  the  traces  of  vice,  should,  like 
a  talisman,  preserve  you  from  contagion,  ever  reminding  you — 
"  Show  thyself  a  man  !" 

The  reflection  that  this  terrible  struggle  is  intimately  con 
nected  with  the  highest  interests  of  humanity  and  religion,  and 
that  our  national  triumph  will  result  in  giving  a  new  impulse 
among  men  to  everything  that  is  elevating,  good  and  holy,  urges, 
lest  you  come  short  yourselves  of  the  blessings  you  are  procuring 
for  others  and  posterity — "Show  thyself  a  man  !" 

Finally,  the  sacred  graves  of  our  fallen  comrades,  silently  tell 
ing  of  the  perilous  service  in  which  we  are  engaged,  and  that  not 
all  who  now  leave  home,  amid  the  adieus  of  friends,  shall  live  to 


566  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

receive  their  congratulations  at  our  return,  should  lift  our  thoughts 
toward  heaven  and  eternity,  while  the  voice  of  God  urges  the 
exhortation  in  its  fullest,  Christian  sense — "Snow  THYSELF  A 
MAN  !"  Your  devoted  friend  and  Chaplain, 

Bristol,  111.,  March,  1864.  WM.  M.  HAIGH. 

In  Chicago  they  were  marched  to  the  Soldiers'  Rest,  where 
they  had  accommodations  and  dinner  provided.  About  three 
o'clock  they  went  on  board  the  cars,  but  did  not  start  till  near 
dark — traveling  very  slowly  all  night,  and  arriving  in  Indianap 
olis  Sunday  afternoon.  After  a  most  hearty  and  welcome  dinner, 
the  journey  was  resumed  and  Jeifersonville  reached  next  morning. 
Thus  far,  we  had  been  in  company  with  another  veteran  regiment, 
which  seemed  to  be  without  any  efficient  commander,  smashing  the 
windows  of  the  cars  and  tearing  up  two  of  the  inside  roof  cover 
ings.  The  official  in  charge  of  the  train,  in  giving  in  his  report, 
warmly  commended  the  36th  for  their  orderly  behavior,  in  con 
trast  with  their  temporary  associates.  On  the  way  from  Louis 
ville  to  Nashville,  next  day,  however,  as  the  two  heavily  loaded 
trains  moved  out  of  the  city — the  engines  tugging  like  dray 
horses — the  spirit  of  mischief  came  upon  some  of  the  36th,  and 
they  pulled  a  coupling  pin,  causing  a  halt  and  a  delay.  As  the 
train  started  again,  the  trick  was  repeated,  to  the  no  small  vexa 
tion  of  the  train  men.  At  last  a  guard  was  set  over  each  coupler, 
and  of  course  the  game  was  up. 

On  arriving  at  Nashville,  we  were  confronted  with  the  unwel 
come  announcement  that  we  could  proceed  no  further  on  the  rail 
road,  but  must  march  over  the  country  to  Chattanooga,  as  all  the 
transportation  was  needed  for  accumulating  supplies  at  the  front. 
The  traveler  lolling  at  leisure,  perusing  his  morning  paper,  while 
the  train  glides  over  the  track,  is  not  more  conscions  of  an 
unpleasant  jerk,  when  his  smooth  progress  and  his  reading  are 
brought  to  an  untimely  end  by  some  displaced  rail  or  broken  axle. 


AGAIN    ON    THE    MARCH.  567 

than  were  we  in  finding  the  comforts  of  civilization  thus  suddenly 
exchanged  for  the  stern  realities  of  war.  But  we  submitted  with 
as  good  a  grace  as  the  circumstances  would  allow.  Laying  aside 
all  the  superfluities  which  belong  to  life  in  "  America,"  and  com 
ing  down  to  "first  principles,"  we  prepared  to  march. 

We  set  out  on  Friday,  March  26th,  and,  as  usual,  the  rain 
began  simultaneously  to  fall.  After  we  had  marched  about  nine 
miles,  we  pitched  our  tents,  in  the  midst  of  a  driving  shower. 
This  was  a  hard  beginning  for  the  new  recruits,  but  the  elasticity 
of  the  old  soldierss,  howed  itself  in  the  jokes  which  were  let  off 
upon  the  situation  of  soldiers  in  general  and  veterans  in  particu 
lar.  "  There  is  one  thing  that  comforts  me  a  good  deal,"  said 
an  old  boy ;  "  I've  only  a  little  over  two  years  and  nine  months  to 
serve." 

On  the  road,  both  before  and  behind  us,  were  numerous  regi 
ments,  making  their  way  also  to  the  front,  whose  camps  were  in  the 
same  vicinity,  and  in  spite  of  all  the  care  that  could  be  taken,  by 
limiting  each  days  journey  to  about  twelve  miles — starting  early 
and  going  into  carnp  early,  the  men  suffered  a  good  deal,  for  even 
the  old  soldiers  were  unseasoned,  their  feet  being  especially  tender 
and  easily  injured.  The  camps  along  the  way  were  named  by 
the  Colonel  after  the  first  two,  in  compliment  to  absent  officers. 
Camp  Haigh  was  the  name  of  the  first,  Camp  Hatch  of  the 
second,  Camp  Sill  of  the  third,  which  was  about  half  a  mile 
south  of  Murfreesboro.  This  camp  we  reached  at  eleven  o'clock 
on  Sunday,  the  day  being  excessively  hot  and  the  men  tired. 
It  was  with  melancholy  interest  we  retraced  the  old  ground, 
made  historic  by  fierce  struggles  and  deadly  conflicts,  or  examined 
the  riven  trees — silent  witnesses  of  the  fiery  storms  which  raged 
terrifically  through  them.  And  how  did  our  thoughts  turn 
towards  that  spot  where  two  hundred  of  our  regiment  fell  wounded 


568  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

or  dead  ere  the  rushing  foe  could  break  through  that  living  bar 
rier  of  loyal  hearts !  or  that  other  spot,  hard  by,  where  sleeps 
the  precious  dust  of  those  who  loved  their  country  better  than 
their  life.  Towards  evening  we  gathered  for  service,  the  Chap 
lain  preaching  a  sermon  appropriate  to  the  beginning  of  a  new 
term  of  service,  from  the  character  of  the  Roman  military  officer 
whom  Christ  so  much  commended.  It  was  a  solemn  season. 
The  memory  of  fallen  comrades,  the  tears  and  prayers  of  Christ 
ian  friends  just  left  behind,  the  unknown  but  perilous  future,  all 
seemed  pressing  on  that  hushed  gathering  the  claims  of  Christ 
and  eternity.  The  spirit  of  God,  we  have  reason  to  believe,  was 
there  with  His  effectual  calling,  and  not  a  few  resolves  were  made 
that  hour  which  were  found  afterwards  to  ripen  into  hopeful 
conversion. 

Next  morning  the  regiment  started  early,  while  the  Chaplain 
and  Adjt.  Case  remained  behind  to  procure  transportation  for 
some  men  unable  to  march,  but  as  the  General  was  not  yet  up, 
they  seized  the  opportunity  to  ride  out  to  Hospital  Harding,  look 
over  the  battle-ground  and  ascertain  the  condition  of  the  grave. 
They  found  the  fence  still  remaining,  but  the  ground  itself  so 
settled  that  should  the  fence  be  removed,  all  traces  of  the  grave 
would  soon  disappear.  On  joining  the  regiment  that  night, 
about  fifteen  miles  south  of  Murfreesboro,  and  stating  the  facts, 
a  determination  was  at  once  expressed  to  erect  a  monument  on 
the  spot,  that  the  memory  of  their  comrades'  valor  might  be  pre 
served.  Measures  were  at  once  taken  to  procure  the  necessary 
plans,  and  progress  was  made,  but  a  National  Cemetery  was 
ordered  at  Murfreesboro,  under  the  superintendence  of  Chaplain 
Earnshaw,  and  the  remains  of  the  dead  all  over  the  battle-field 
were  gathered  and  re-interred,  making  the  efforts  of  separate 
regiments  unnecessary.  In  this  connection  it  is  well  to  know,  as 


A    SCHOOL    IN    SESSION.  569 

Chaplain  Van  Home  states,  (who  has  borne  the  most  prominent 
part  in  this  most  necessary  and  honorable  task)  :  uln  expression 
of  the  value  of  each  citizen  who  fell  in  the  war,  the  body  of  each 
was  placed  in  a  separate  gave.  And  so  thorough  was  the  search 
for  the  dead  upon  every  battle-field,  and  over  the  whole  country, 
that  their  friends  may  be  assured  that,  whether  identified  or  not, 
all  rest  in  grounds  consecrated  to  their  abode  forever." 

That  night  we  experienced  a  terrible  thunder  storm,  accompanied 
with  much  rain  and  wind ;  but  leaving  Camp  Greusel,  we  resumed 
our  march  next  day  ;  passing  through  Shelbyville — a  fine  town, 
with  a  loyal  population,  whose  ladies  gave  us  a  hearty  reception. 
We  continued  our  course  southeast,  towards  Tullohoma,  halting 
at  Camp  Joslyn,  five  miles  out.  Next  day  we  went  into  camp  at 
Tullohoma — Camp  Jenks.  During  this  day  we  saw  the  first 
school  in  session  that  we  had  seen  in  all  our  marching,  and  it  was 
worthy  of  notice  that  the  whole  region  from  which  it  drew  its  sup 
port  was  loyal.  Next  day  the  regiment  took  the  railroad  track, 
while  the  officers  went  around  by  the  road.  Before  starting,  it  was 
ascertained  that  a  new  recruit,  Ira  Scofield,  had  stayed  back  the 
day  before  at  a  farm-house,  complaining  of  sickness.  A  man 
was  detailed  to  take  an  ambulance  and  bring  him  into  town,  that 
he  might  be  well  cared  for.  The  man  found  him  too  sick  to  be 
moved,  but  remained  with  him  until  he  died. 

On  arriving  at  Derchard,  the  Colonel  found  a  construction 
train,  on  which  he  succeeded  in  placing  the  regiment  for  a  ride 
through  to  Cowan,  where  the  officers  found  them  on  their  arrival, 
camped  on  the  old  ground,  to  which  we  now  gave  the  name  of 
Camp  Olson.  We  took  an  interest  in  looking  for  any  traces  of 
our  once  beautiful  chapel,  and  succeeded  in  finding  the  stumps  of 
old  posts  still  remaining.  On  Friday  we  crossed  the  Cumber 
land  mountains  in  a  heavy  rain  storm,  the  road  indiscribably 

37 


570  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

muddy  and  rocky,  so  that  it  seemed  impossible  for  a  wagon  to 
pass  over  it.  And  sure  enough,  after  selecting  camp  five  miles 
beyond  Tantallon  (Camp  Barry),  we  waited  until  after  five  o'clock, 
when  we  learned  that  our  wagon  was  stuck  on  the  mountain,  and 
Lieut.  Col.  Olson  went  back  to  bring  it  on.  Headquarters  were 
thus  without  tents,  blankets  or  food.  This  state  of  things  lasted 
two  days,  until  the  wagon  was  brought  forward.  Those  two 
nights  of  trying  to  fight  the  cold  and  wet  and  catch  some  sleep, 
will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  For  food,  they  were  made  welcome  to 
the  rations  of  the  men,  who  thought  that  in  this  matter — as  well 
as  the  veteran  bounties — they  had  the  advantage  of  the  officers. 
Our  next  halt  was  Camp  Sherman,  at  Stevenson,  where  we 
remained  all  day  Sunday,  expecting  every  hour  to  start  for  Chat 
tanooga.  Night  came  and  no  train,  but  a  terrible  rain  storm 
instead.  A  number  of  officers  found  shelter  at  the  Home.  Next 
morning  we  took  an  early  start — the  men  riding  on  the  top  of 
the  cars,  in  a  heavy  rain — and  arrived  in  Chattanooga  about  noon. 
Here  we  remained  several  days,  waiting  for  transportation,  and 
had  a  fine  opportunity  to  visit  Mission  Ridge — with  Col.  Miller 
and  others  to  recognize  all  the  localities. 

On  Friday,  the  8th,  three  companies  found  accommodations, 
and  went  on  to  Loudon.  Next  day  three  more  followed,  the  rest 
being  left  in  charge  of  Capt.  Biddulph.  At  Loudon  we  found 
the  brigade,  and  the  non- veterans  who  were  with  the  88th.  They 
had  been  enjoying  a  good  rest  there  for  some  weeks,  and  abund 
ance  of  rations.  This  was  very  different  from  what  they  had  at 
first.  Thumb,  of  Company  D,  says :  "My  mess-mate  and  myself 
took  an  inventory  of  our  stock  of  provisions  and  fuel  this  morn 
ing  after  breakfast,  and  found  them  to  consist  of  the  following 
named  articles  for  one  day's  rations  for  two  men :  half  a  pound 
of  beef  (half  of  it  bone),  one  pint  of  cornmeal,  two  dozen  small 


NUTRITIOUS    BILL    OF   FARE.  571 

white  beans,  and  a  tablespoonful  of  salt.  Our  wood  consisted  of 
half  a  rail,  and  two  small  sticks  of  wood;  so  the  first  thing  to 
be  done  was  to  cut  and  carry  some  wood  (distance  to  wood  half 
a  mile),  which  took  us  till  noon  ;  the  next,  to  find  how  to  cook 
our  rations  so  as  to  make  three  meals.  After  an  hour's  hard 
study,  we  concluded  to  boil  the  beans  and  beef  and  make  some 
soup.  After  boiling  two  and  a-half  hours,  found  we  had  two 
pints  of  bean  soup  of  about  the  strength  of  water — a  hearty  meal 
for  two  stout,  hungry  men.  We  had  meal  to  bake  into  griddle 
cakes  for  supper,  and  then  go  hungry  until  we  could  get  some 
more.  This  is  a  soldier's  fare;  who  would  not  be  a  soldier? 
The  cattle-guards  went  over  to  Division  Headquarters  for  some 
beef  cattle  to-day,  and  they  had  to  leave  three  head  on  the  road, 
for  they  were  so  poor  they  could  not  walk ;  several  more  of  them 
lay  down  as  soon  as  they  were  turned  into  the  yard,  and  could 
not  be  made  to  get  up.  It  is  only  two  miles  to  Division  Head 
quarters.  We  drew  beef  this  evening  for  one  day,  and  fresh  pork 
for  another.  The  beef  is  so  poor  they  had  to  give  us  some  pork 
to  cook  with  it  to  keep  it  from  sticking  to  the  pan." 

After  reaching  Loudon,  however,  they  had  good  and  abundant 
rations.  Their  journals  were  full  of  complainings  about  being 
lonesome,  and  one  designates  them  as  "we  foundlings."  They 
left  the  88th,  April  10th,  the  band  playing,  "Get  out  of  the  Wil 
derness,"  and  returned  to  the  old  36th  playing,  "  Home  Again," 
which  tells  the  whole  story. 

The  nine  companies  made  camp.  On  the  Sabbath  religious 
services  were  held,  and  the  Chaplain  being  furnished  with  a  fine 
large  tent,  the  evening  meetings  were  resumed,  and  it  was  found 
that  many  officers  and  men  had  returned  from  home  with  heart 
felt  determinations  to  serve  God  as  well  as  their  country.  A 
Christian  Association  was  formed,  to  which  quite  a  number 


572  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

attached  themselves.  Our  library,  too,  was  with  us,  and  the  mag 
azines  came  regularly,  so  that  we  were  well  supplied  with  read 
ing,  and  passed  the  week  quite  pleasantly. 

In  the  meantime,  a  detachment  under  Capt.  Biddulph  had 
started  for  Loudon,  but  were  stopped  at  Cleveland  by  order  of 
Gen.  Howard,  who  now  commanded  the  corps.  The  36th  was 
camped  near  his  headquarters .  On  the  other  side  of  the  town 
was  a  division  of  cavalry  assigned  to  provost  and  guard  duty. 
Careless  and  inefficient  officers  had  made  the  command  like  them 
selves,  so  that  they  were  notoriously  negligent  as  guards,  and 
property  committed  to  them  was  less  safe  than  if  exposed  with 
out  guard.  Great  dissatisfaction  arose  at  their  lack  of  discipline, 
and  the  lawless  habits  which  the  men  had  contracted.  One  day 
the  Adjutant  General  inquired  of  Capt.  Biddulph  if  he  supposed 
the  36th  could  perform  provost  duty  without  being  overriden  by 
the  cavalry.  "Try  them,"  said  Biddulph,  and  the  change  was 
at  once  made.  The  detachment  moved  their  quarters  to  and 
adjoining  the  court  house,  and  entered  upon  their  duty.  Con 
fusion  and  outrage  quickly  gave  place  to  quiet  and  order.  The 
wild  and  lawless  found  that  their  power  was  gone,  and  that  for 
drunkenness  and  disorderly  conduct  they  were  unceremoniously 
dumped  into  the  guard-house.  In  conversation  with  the  Adju 
tant  General,  one  evening,  Gen.  Harker  asserted  that  he  could 
run  the  guard  when  he  pleased,  without  the  countersign.  On 
being  told  that  a  new  order  of  things  had  been  introduced  ;  that 
the  36th  was  now  on  duty,  and  that  running  the  guard  was  "  played 
out,"  the  General  adhered  to  his  assertion,  and  offered  to  wager  a 
basket  of  champagne  that  he  could  succeed.  The  wager  was  taken, 
and  the  General  sallied  out  to  make  the  attempt,  but  was  abruptly 
snubbed  by  the  first  guard  he  encountered,  and,  when  he  insisted 
upon  passing,  was  arrested  and  conducted  to  the  guard-house — out 


ATTRACTIONS  OF  THE  VALLEY.  573 

of  which  even  his  stars  would  not  have  kept  him,  had  not  the 
Adjutant  General  made  his  appearance  and  effected  his  release ; 
claiming,  no  doubt,  his  basket  of  champagne.  It  was  some  time 
before  the  detachment  returned  to  the  regiment,  but  when  they 
did  so  it  was  with  high  compliments  upon  their  efficiency  as  pro 
vost  guards. 

On  Sunday,  April  17th,  the  regiment  moved  to  the  south  of 
the  river,  where  we  held  service,  and  the  next  morning  started 
for  Cleveland,  the  headquarters  of  the  corps,  arriving  there  the 
following  Thursday. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  find  language  too  strong  in  which  to 
describe  the  attractions  of  this  valley,  through  which  runs  the 
Tennessee  &  Virginia  Railroad.  Its  beauty  of  scenery,  fertility 
of  soil,  salubrity  of  climate,  and  its  never-to-be-forgotten  spark 
ling,  pure  water,  point  it  out  as  a  region  destined  one  day  to 
receive  and  sustain  a  large  population.  Its  purely  stragetic  value 
in  the  war  could  not  be  overrated,  and  its  advantages  as  a  source 
of  supplies,  justified  the  tenacity  with  which  the  South  clung  to 
its  possession  and  the  sullenness  with  which  they  gave  up  the 
contest  for  its  recapture. 

During  the  winter  our  commanders  had  quite  extensively  to 
supply  the  inhabitants  with  rations,  but  all  along  the  line  of  our 
march  from  Loudon,  fences  were  being  built,  and  with  such  horses 
as  were  left — if  by  any  figure  of  speech  such  frames  could  be 
called  horses — farmers  were  putting  in  their  spring  "craps." 
Great  care  was  used  by  our  commanders  to  protect  them  in  their 
work,  and  avoid  all  unnecessary  waste  of  property. 

We  remained  at  Cleveland  nearly  two  weeks,  occupied  with  the 
usual  camp  duties,  chiefly  picketing  and  drilling.  We  were 
reviewed  once  by  our  new  Corps  Commander,  Gen.  Howard,  and 
made  special  use  of  our  regimental  library.  We  were  encouraged, 


574  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

too,  to  increase  our  usual  number  of  meetings  because  of  the 
growing  interest  felt  in  them.  Cleveland  also  was  visited  by  D. 
L.  Moody,  and  other  members  of  the  Christian  Commission,  and 
quite  a  deep  religious  interest  was  manifested,  which  extended  to 
many  members  of  the  36th.  But  all  signs  pointed  to  an  early 
advance.  On  Monday,  May  2nd,  we  packed  up  the  library  and 
all  extra  baggage,  to  see  them  no  more  until  they  should  come 
forward  to  us  in  Atlanta,  and  on  Tuesday,  May  3rd,  we  started 
out  on  the  Atlanta  Campaign. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

DALTON   AND    RESA.CA. 

,OTII  North  and  South  were  looking  with  intense 
interest  for  the  opening  of  the  spring  campaign.  On 
our  side  the  most  stupendous  preparations  had  been 
made  both  East  and  West.  Chief  in  importance  was 
the  re-enlistment  of  so  many  old  regiments,  bearing  henceforth, 
as  has  been  truly  said,  "  the  grandest  name  which  the  war  origin 
ated."  Next,  must  be  placed  the  unifying  of  all  army  move 
ments,  by  the  appointment  of  Grant  as  Lieutenant  General,  thus 
making  possible  the  most  thorough  and  wide-reaching  co-opera 
tion  of  all  the  forces.  "  The  Military  Division  of  the  Missis 
sippi  "  was  continued,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Gen. 


CHANGE    OF   COMMANDERS.  575 

Sherman;  McPherson  taking  the  "Army  of  the  Tennessee," 
and  Schofield  the  "  Army  of  the  Ohio."  Supplies  in  vast  amounts 
were  collected  at  Chattanooga,  and  everything  done  that  could 
be  to  thoroughly  equip  the  forces  for  what  was  hoped  would  prove 
the  final  campaign  of  the  war.  .The  South,  too,  realized  the 
crisis,  and  notwithstanding  the  disasters  of  the  year  past,  con 
fronted  us  with  a  strength  and  determination  worthy  of  a  better 
cause.  Chief  among  the  significant  acts  of  preparation  in  the 
South  was  the  appointment  of  Gen.  Joe  Johnston  to  command 
their  Western  army,  a  man  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  any  officer 
in  their  service. 

In  our  own  part  of  the  army  important  changes  were  made, 
some  pleasing,  others  not  so.  The  substitution  of  Gen.  Howard 
for  Gen.  Granger,  in  command  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  gave  univer 
sal  satisfaction,  but  the  removal  of  Gen.  Sheridan  from  the  com 
mand  of  the  Second  Division  to  the  head  of  the  Cavalry  on  the 
Potomac,  while  highly  honorable  to  him  and  serviceable  to  the 
country,  was  looked  upon  by  all  who  had  served  under  him  as 
inflicting  on  us  a  loss  which  was  simply  irreparable.  Perhaps 
we  were  in  no  humor  to  give  any  man  who  might  take  his  place 
a  perfectly  fair  judgment,  but  it  is  the  truth  to  say  that  Gen. 
Newton  never  commanded  the  confidence  of  officers  or  men,  and 
many  a  time  when  the  division  was  placed  in  critical  circum 
stances,  the  wish  expressed  by  all  was,  "  0,  that  Sheridan  were 
here." 

Some  changes  also  were  made  in  the  First  Brigade,  which  was 
composed  now  of  nine  regiments,  the  2nd  and  15th  Missouri, 
24th  Wisconsin,  28th  Kentucky,  36th,  44th,  73rd,  74th  and  88th 
Illinois,  all  under  the  command  of  Col.  F.  T.  Sherman,  of  the 
88th.  In  the  regiment  the  only  change  to  be  noted  was  the 
absence  through  the  campaign  of  Major  Sherman,  who  was  left 


576  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

behind  in  Illinois  in  recruiting  service,  and  on  being  relieved  was 
appointed  by  Gen.  Thomas  Commandant  of  Military  Prison  at 
Nashville,  which  delicate  and  responsible  post  he  filled  with  the 
commendation  of  the  General. 

The  general  plan  adopted  for  the  prosecution  of  the  campaign, 
was  for  both  armies,  East  and  West,  to  move  forward  simulta 
neously  against  the  enemy  in  their  front,  and  press  so  vigorously 
and  persistently  as  to  allow  no  opportunity  to  the  enemy  to 
re-inforce  in  either  direction.  The  2nd  of  May  was  first  desig 
nated  by  Gen.  Grant  for  the  united  advance,  which,  however,  was 
afterwards  changed  to  the  5th.  That  we  might  be  in  time  to  take 
our  place  on  that  day,  the  Fourth  Corps  received  orders  on  the 
morning  of  the  3rd  to  be  ready  to  march  at  noon,  and  promptly 
at  that  hour  we  left  camp  and  drew  out  on  the  road  to  Dalton. 
That  our  campaign  was  to  be  an  earnest  and  vigorous  one,  was 
evident  from  the  strict  regulations  in  regard  to  camp  equipage 
and  transportation.  To  each  regiment  was  allowed  but  one 
wagon  and  one  ambulance,  and  one  tent  as  an  office,  but  as  the 
wagon  would  only  occasionally  be  with  the  regiment,  each  officer 
and  soldier  was  required  to  carry  on  his  horse  or  person,  food  and 
clothing  enough  for  five  days.  A  pack-horse  was  allowed  to 
headquarters  for  forage,  etc.,  and  one  for  the  officers  of  each  com 
pany,  so  that  it  was  common  to  see  quite  a  number  of  pack- 
horses  or  mules  at  the  rear  of  each  regiment.  Gen.  Sherman 
himself  set  the  example  of  light  marching,  by  having  nothing 
but  a  tent-fly  for  his  headquarters. 

On  the  3rd,  we  marched  about  fourteen  miles,  camping  near 
Redclay,  just  across  the  Tennessee  line,  and  next  day  arrived  at 
Catoosa  Springs,  completing  the  concentration  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland. 

Here  are  twenty-five  different  kinds  of  mineral  waters,  with  a 
large  hotel,  and  all  the  conveniences  of  a  Southern  watering 


ENEMY'S  FORTIFICATIONS.  577 

place.  The  enemy  had  been  using  it,  of  late,  as  a  hospital 
In  this  vicinity  we  remained  until  Saturday,  the  7th,  when  at 
four  o'clock  A.  M.,  we  commenced  the  advance  on  Tunnel  Hill, 
which,  after  a  good  deal  of  skirmishing  and  firing  in  front,  we 
reached  at  about  ten  o'clock.  Next  day  we  moved  out  at  nine 
o'clock,  but  halted  frequently,  while  Barker's  Brigade,  of  our 
division,  pushed  forward  to  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  having  a,  number 
killed  and  wounded,  and  at  night  we  bivouaced  on  the  same 
ground  that  we  occupied  in  the  morning.  Here  we  learned  of 
the  successful  movement  of  Grant's  army  in  Virginia.  Next  day 
(the  9th)  we  ascended  Rocky  Face,  in  support  of  the  troops 
already  there,  and  from  this  point  had  a  magnificent  view  of  the 
country ;  of  the  enemy's  position  and  our  own.  It  is  seldom 
indeed  that  so  fine  an  opportunity  is  afforded  for  watching  the 
operations  of  contending  armies.  Rocky  Face  Ridge  is  what  its 
name  imports ;  is  of  great  height,  and  extends  for  many  miles 
due  south.  About  the  centre  is  a  gorge,  through  which  flows 
Mill  Creek,  and  also  passes  the  railroad  to  Dalton.  This  gap 
has  sharp,  precipitous  sides,  which  could  only  be  approached  from 
the  ridge,  and  then,  so  defended  was  it  by  rocks  and  ledges,  that 
men  could  not  be  massed  in  order,  but  must  ascend  in  broken 
fragments.  These  palisades  were  crowned  with  batteries.  This 
was  Buzzard's  Roost.  On  the  east  side  of  the  ridge  and  in  front 
of  Dalton  were  the  main  fortifications,  covering  all  the  roads 
from  the  north  and  east.  These  were  very  strong — including  all 
the  defences  of  modern  warfare — and  in  front  were  strong  lines 
of  sharpened  stakes,  leaning  outwards,  protected  by  a  perfect 
labyrinth  of  fallen  trees.  By  means  of  dams,  also,  the  country 
round  was  flooded,  so  that  every  protection  possible  had  been 
provided.  The  ascent  to  the  ridge  was  the  steepest  we  had  ever 
known — in  some  places  almost  perpendicular, — arid  the  crest  was 
but  a  few  feet  wide.  As  soon  as  we  could  take  a  view  of  the  sit- 


578  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

uation,  there  was  much  speculation  as  to  what  the  enemy  would 
do,  and  we  scanned  the  works  in  front  of  Dalton  narrowly,  to 
find  if  possible  what  men  occupied  them.  But  everything  there 
was  quiet,  and  not  a  man  was  to  be  seen.  About  noon,  there 
broke  on  us  a  sight  which  none  present  can  ever  forget.  The 
23rd  Corps,  whom  we  had  passed  in  the  morning,  had  entered 
the  valley  round  the  northern  point  of  the  ridge,  deployed  across 
it,  and  were  now  marching  in  line  of  battle  directly  upon  the  for 
tifications.  First,  we  could  see  the  lines  of  skirmishers,  moving 
steadily  forward,  reaching  from  one  favorable  cover  to  another, 
and  firing  at  intervals,  as  they  caught  sight  of  the  opposing  skir 
mishers.  Then  came  the  line  of  battle  in  splendid  order,  the 
regimental  flags  glistening  in  the  sun  and  appearing  in  beautiful 
contrast  to  the  rich  green  of  the  trees  and  grass  through  which 
they  were  borne.  On  they  went,  driving  in  the  enemy,  until 
about  four  o'clock,  when  they  came  within  range  of  the  forts, 
and  we  were  in  momentary  expectation  of  witnessing  a  bloody 
conflict.  Gun  after  gun  opened  from  the  fort,  and  quick  as 
thought,  the  top  of  the  parapet  seemed  alive  with  men's  heads, 
stretched  up  to  see  our  advancing  columns.  Their  curiosity  had 
got  the  better  of  their  judgment  and  orders,  and  we  could  see 
that  their  works  swarmed  with  men.  But  the  23rd  Corps  halted, 
having  evidently  carried  out  their  orders. 

Late  in  the  afternoon,  Barker's  Brigade  made  a  direct  assault 
on  the  south  end  of  our  ridge,  while  Wagner's  Brigade  did  the 
same  from  the  east  side.  The  firing  was  tremendous  for  a  little 
while,  and  the  spent  balls  fell  thickly  where  our  brigade  lay  in 
reserve,  but  the  assaults  were  unsuccessful,  and  we  lost  quite  a 
number  of  men.  During  the  afternoon  our  mail  arrived  and 
was  distributed.  At  night  our  brigade  was  withdrawn  from  the 
ridge  and  sent  back  about  three  miles  to  guard  the  roads  and 


NIGHT    ON   THE    KIDGE.  579 

trains.  Next  morning  we  returned  to  the  entrance  of  the  valley, 
passing  round  the  northern  end  of  the  ridge  and  up  the  eastern 
side,  which  was  easier  of  ascent  than  the  western.  Despatches 
arrived  announcing  Grant's  success  on  the  Potomac.  The  Brig 
ade  was  soon  set  to  work  building  breastworks  of  the  stones 
and  timber  which  could  be  gathered,  while  the  23rd  Corps  retired 
to  the  mouth  of  the  gap. 

We  now  learned  that  the  fighting  of  the  previous  day  was 
simply  to  hold  Johnston's  army  at  Dalton,  while  McPherson 
siezed  Snake  Creek  Gap  and  operated  against  the  railroad  at 
Resaca.  Rain  began  to  fall,  and  our  preparations  for  the  night 
were  anything  but  inviting.  The  narrowness  of  the  ridge  pre 
vented  our  selecting  a  level  spot  to  lie  down  on.  The  sides  were 
at  an  angle  of  about  forty-five  degrees,  and  the  rocks  so  thick 
that  it  was  extremely  difficult  to  find  a  spot  large  enough  or  of 
such  a  shape  as  to  admit  a  man  sleeping  with  any  comfort,  but 
we  put  up  shelters  the  best  we  could  and  lay  down.  During  the 
night,  however,  there  came  up  a  furious  storm  of  rain  and  wind, 
blowing  down  our  coverings  and  drenching  us  through,  so  that 
with  many  of  us  the  only  way  to  pass  the  rest  of  the  night  was 
to  sit  up  by  the  fire  and  take  it  as  easy  as  possible.  The  next 
day  the  rain  continued,  but  all  was  quiet,  and  with  the  exception 
of  a  slight  change  in  position,  no  movement  was  made.  The  one 
bright  spot  of  the  day  was  the  coming  of  the  mail.  Next  day 
it  was  evident  that  our  corps  and  the  cavalry  alone  remained ; 
that  Schofield  and  the  rest  of  the  army  had  moved  south  to 
re-inforce  McPherson,  which  they  were  well  able  to  do  without 
the  knowledge  of  the  enemy,  for  Rocky  Face  Ridge  operated  like 
an  impenetrable  curtain,  behind  which  all  our  movements  were  hid. 
Near  noon,  however,  our  attention  was  attracted  by  the  marching 
of  a  heavy  column  of  infantry  on  the  other  side  of  the  valley 


580  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

towards  our  left.  We  could  see  the  glistening  of  arms  and  the 
white  covers  of  the  wagons  among  the  trees.  It  was  an  exciting 
time,  for  it  looked  like  a  massing  of  forces  against  us  ;  but  soon 
our  signal  flags  were  seen  to  be  busy,  and  Wood's  Division,  in 
reserve  on  Tunnel  Hill,  broke  up  camp,  marched  rapidly  down  to 
the  mouth  of  the  gap,  and  formed  in  two  lines  across  it.  The 
enemy's  cavalry  made  a  dash  on  ours,  but  on  discovering  our 
infantry  they  withdrew.  About  three  o'clock,  when  we  were 
watching  with  breathless  interest  for  the  opening  of  a  brisk  fight, 
they  began  to  fall  back  by  the  road  on  which  they  came,  having 
accomplished  their  object  of  finding  out  if  our  forces  were  mov 
ing  towards  Resaca.  At  night  we  could  see  fires  burning  within 
their  works,  indicating  evacuation.  Next  morning  we  found  the 
enemy  gone,  and  the  2nd  Missouri  occupied  Buzzard's  Roost. 

We  started  down  the  eastern  side  of  the  ridge  and  marched 
rapidly  towards  Dalton.  We  were  now  able  to  judge  exactly 
what  a  task  it  would  have  been  to  take  their  works  in  front ;  it 
would  have  been  a  terrible  misfortune  even  to  attempt  it.  We 
passed  through  the  deserted  camps  which  had  been  occupied  all 
winter,  and  soon  arrived  at  Dalton.  By  some  oversight  no  guards 
had  been  appointed,  and  the  troops  were  not  sparing  of  anything 
within  their  reach,  particularly  tobacco  and  peanuts,  of  which 
an  abundance  were  found.  After  leaving  the  town,  Stanley's 
Division  in  advance  overhauled  the  enemy's  rear  guard,  and  our 
progress  was  slow  ;  but  with  one  halt  about  six  o'clock  to  make 
coffee,  we  moved  on  until  about  nine  o'clock,  when  we  bivouacked 
by  the  roadside. 

Next  morning  (Saturday,  14th)  we  were  up  at  dawn,  and 
marching  very  slowly  for  about  two  miles,  made  junction  with 
the  23rd  Corps,  which  had  come  by  the  other  road.  Very  soon 
Gen.  Howard  appeared,  and  a  line  of  battle  was  formed  facing  east. 


ANOTHER    OF    GRANT'S    VICTIMS.  581 

About  half-past  ten  we  heard  the  troops  to  our  right  cheering 
lustily.  Soon  the  36th  was  called  to  "attention,"  and  a  despatch 
was  read  from  Washington,  announcing  that  Grant  had  captured 
a  whole  division  of  Lee's  army  and  thirty  pieces  of  artillery. 
Three  hearty  cheers  were  given  by  each  regiment  in  the  brigade, 
and  the  band  struck  up  "Hail  Columbia,"  "Yankee  Doodle," 
"  Dixie,"  etc. 

About  half-past  eleven  o'clock  we  moved  forward  by  the  left  of 
companies  to  the  front,  our  regiment  marching  in  the  rear  of  24th 
Wisconsin.  After  passing  through  very  heavy  brush  and  timber 
for  about  a  mile,  we  come  out  upon  open  ground,  and  again 
formed  line  of  battle.  While  this  was  being  done,  the  23rd 
Corps,  on  our  right,  moved  forward  to  the  attack  in  splendid  style, 
and  in  half  an  hour  the  artillery  and  musketry  firing  became  very 
heavy.  The  brigade  was  now  ordered  to  throw  up  breastworks 
on  the  knoll  they  occupied,  which  was  rapidly  done  with  logs, 
stones  and  anything  available.  Soon  they  advanced  again,  while 
a  battery  was  opened  by  the  enemy  directly  in  front,  and  the 
shells  came  whistling  over  us  lively.  As  the  Chaplain  and  Dr. 
Pierce  were  following  in  the  rear  of  the  brigade,  a  shell  exploded 
close  by  them.  After  remaining  in  reserve  until  about  half-past 
three,  the  brigade  moved  forward  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  and 
were  soon  engaged. 

About  half-past  four  the  36th  and  15th  Missouri  charged  up 
from  the  creek,  under  whose  banks  they  had  been  sheltered, 
against  a  Rebel  battery  behind  breastworks  on  a  hill,  with  a  heavy 
infantry  support.  They  moved  across  the  open  field  under  a  ter 
rible  fire  of  shot,  shell,  canister  and  musketry,  and  succeeded  in 
reaching  nearly  to  the  very  walls  of  the  fort,  when  they  were 
obliged  to  fall  back,  some  to  the  middle  of  the  field  and  others 
to  the  cover  of  the  steep  banks  and  fringe  of  trees  lining  the 


582  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

banks  of  the  creek.  Here  each  selected  his  own  position,  and 
continued  to  fire  with  such  success  as  to  keep  the  cannoneers 
from  working  their  guns,  thus  allowing  our  artillery  to  play  on 
them. 

In  this  advance  the  new  regimental  flag  was  nearly  demol 
ished  by  a  shell  passing  through  its  centre.  Quite  a  number 
were  killed  and  wounded,  who,  falling  between  the  lines,  could 
not  be  removed  until  dark,  when  the  firing  ceased.  A  few  of 
the  men  while  making  the  charge,  had  taken  positions  behind 
trees,  stumps  and  rocks,  somewhat  in  advance  of  the  regiment, 
and  so  thoroughly  was  the  field  swept  with  Rebel  shot  that  it  was 
dangerous  for  these  to  fall  back  when  the  rest  retreated.  Among 
them  was  Newman  Perkins,  of  Company  G,  who  had  been  with 
the  regiment  since  its  organization,  but  in  consequence  of  some 
defect  in  his  foot  which  interfered  with  inarching,  had  been 
detailed  as  teamster,  and  this  was  his  first  participation  in  a  bat 
tle  or  exposure  under  fire.  He  and  a  comrade  remained  for  some 
time  close  under  the  enemy's  works,  deliberately  loading  and 
firing  from  behind  a  tree,  Rebel  bullets  in  the  meantime  striking 
the  ground  and  tree  close  to  them.  They  finally  broke  for  the 
creek,  running  for  dear  life  down  the  hill,  followed  by  singing 
bullets  which  riddled  their  clothing.  A  high  rail-fence,  the  angles 
thickly  grown  up  with  bushes  and  covered  with  vines,  interposed 
between  them  and  the  sheltering  bank.  This  was  cleared  by 
Perkins  at  a  bound,  while  his  comrade  was  detained  by  the  vines 
and  brush,  but  both  reached  the  creek  in  safety.  About  eight 
o'clock  the  lines  became  quiet,  and  there  was  opportunity  to  bring 
off  our  wounded.  Among  them  was  Milt.  Cornell,  of  Company 
E,  who  was  wounded  in  both  legs.  He  was  carried  in  a  blanket 
by  Lounsbury  and  Dyer,  two  of  his  comrades,  to  the  rear,  and 
then  on  a  litter  to  the  Ambulance  Corps. 


HOOKER'S  ASSAULT.  583 

The  regiments  were  relieved  at  ten  o'clock,  and  moving  back 
into  a  piece  of  woods,  lay  down  for  the  night.  Among  those 
who  fell  should  be  mentioned  Howard  Whitney,  Company  F, 
who  was  shot  through  the  neck — living  but  a  few  moments 
after  he  was  struck.  Howard  was  a  faithful  soldier  and  a  true 
Christian,  and  before  going  into  battle,  wrote  to  his  friends  "how 
glad  he  was  that  he  had  a  Savior  to  take  care  of  him  in  this  time 
of  trouble."  The  general  result  of  the  day's  fighting  was  in  our 
favor,  and  an  attempt  to  turn  the  left  flank  of  our  corps  was 
checked  by  the  timely  coming  up  of  Hooker. 

Next  morning,  after  replenishing  their  stomachs  with  coffee 
and  their  cartridge  boxes  with  ammunition,  the  regiment  moved 
to  the  front — about  one  hundred  yards  to  the  left  of  where  the 
charge  was  made  the  day  before — and  passing  up  a  ravine,  took 
the  place  of  the  men  in  the  breastworks  ;  holding  them  and  fight 
ing  steadily  for  two  hours ;  the  enemy's  works  being  about  fif 
teen  rods  off.  Our  men  were  afterwards  moved  further  to  the 
right,  in  support  of  Battery  M,  2nd  Illinois,  where  they  remained 
the  rest  of  the  day  and  night.  About  one  o'clock,  Hooker  made 
an  assault  on  the  left  with  great  vigor  and  success,  driving  the 
enemy  a  mile  back,  and  in  the  meantime  the  firing  all  along  our 
corps  was  very  heavy.  The  enemy's  guns  in  front  of  our  divi 
sion  were  kept  silenced  by  the  fire  of  our  artillery.  Fred  Bier, 
Company  E,  one  of  the  color  guard,  had  thirteen  bullet  holes 
through  his  jacket. 

In  the  meantime,  everything  possible  was  being  done  for  our 
wounded.  As  the  hospitals  were  now  established  for  corps  and 
divisions,  and  the  ambulances  used  in  the  same  way,  it  was  more 
difficult  than  formerly  to  keep  our  men  together.  Dr.  Lytle  was 
put  in  charge  of  our  Division  Hospital,  and  thither  many  of  our 
men  were  carried.  But  others  were  missing,  and  so  the  Chap- 


584  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

lain  went  over  to  the  23rd  Corps  hospitals  and  found  a  number 
had  been  carried  there.  The  Sanitary  Commission,  represented 
by  Rev.  J.  H.  Hazen,  brought  forward  their  supplies  and  dis 
tributed  them.  The  injuries  of  some  of  our  men  (among  whom 
were  Lieut.  Sands,  Company  C,  and  Cornell,  Company  E)  requir 
ing  amputations,  these  operations  were  performed  with  marked 
skill  by  Surgeon  Pierce,  whose  work  has  stood  the  test  of  time. 

The  situation  of  the  enemy  was  now  becoming  desperate. 
Hooker's  advance  had  closed  in  on  the  right.  McPherson  had 
gained  a  position  from  which  he  could  reach  the  railroad  bridge 
over  the  Oostanaula,  and  in  a  few  hours  retreat  would  be  cut  off. 
Johnston  therefore  issued  orders  to  withdraw ;  but  to  cover  his 
movement,  a  general  attack  was  made  on  our  line  about  ten  o'clock, 
when  the  firing  was  very  heavy.  But  it  soon  ceased,  and  next 
morning  our  pickets  advanced  on  their  works  and  found  them 
empty.  There  were  abundant  marks  of  the  severity  of  our  fire. 
Our  artillery  especially  had  been  very  destructive;  horses  lay 
dead  in  masses,  and  new  made  graves  were  thick.  A  detail  was 
made  to  bury  our  dead,  and  the  troops  pushed  on  in  the  pursuit. 
The  bridge  across  the  river  had  been  fired,  but  it  was  reached  in 
time  to  save  it  by  carrying  water  in  haversacks.  As  soon  as  the 
crossing  could  be  made  safe,  the  4th  Corps  passed  over  and  lay 
in  line  of  battle,  a  little  to  the  right,  uutil  about  three  o'clock, 
when  they  resumed  march,  and,  though  retarded  by  the  enemy's 
rear  guard,  arrived  at  Calhoun  in  the  evening.  It  is  worthy  of 
note  that  the  railroad  train  with  supplies  came  steaming  down 
to  the  river  before  we  left. 

CASUALTIES  AT  RESACA. 

KILLED. 

Corp.  J.  H.  Whitney,  Co.  F;  Chas.  M.  Lytle,  Co.  A;  William  Zcllar, 
Co.  E;  D.  P.  Baldwin,  Co.  C;  William  McCrary,  Co.  K. 


WOUNDED    AT    RESACA.  585 

WOUNDED. 
COMPANY  A. 

William  Smailles,  left  leg;  William  Burke,  right  leg;  Edward  Nute, 
hand. 

COMPANY  B. 
Henry  Olcott,  head ;  R.  Logan,  arm ;  Geo.  Ritze,  hand. 

COMPANY  C. 

Lieut.  J.  Sands,  foot ;  R.  J.  Caldwell,    arm;  J.    A.  Porter,  stunned- 
Geo.  W.  Nichols,  hand. 

COMPANY  E. 

W.  P.  Boyd,  leg;  Milton  E.  Cornell,  both  legs;  Uriah  Foster,   foot; 
Fred  Bier,  foot. 

COMPANY  F. 

Erasmus  Anderson,  arm  ;  Alfred  Tomlin,  arm. 

COMPANY  H. 

M.  W.  Goold,  leg. 

COMPANY  I. 

J.  S.Thomas,  leg;  Sergt.  H.  Hirse,  arm. 

COMPANY    K. 

George  Laker,  leg;  J.  H.  Johnson,  leg;   1st  Sergt.  J.  M.  Gordon,  leg; 
A.  Mitchell,  leg;  Edward  Reeder,  leg. 

F.  J.  Nichols,  Co.  A,  Missing. 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

ADAIRSVILLE. 

UR  army  resumed  its  march  from  Calhoun  soon 
after  daylight,  May  17th — Newton's  Division. 
First  Brigade,  being  in  front ;  the  36th  deployed 
as  skirmishers.  Col.  Sherman  had  desired  Col. 
Miller  to  take  command  of  the  demi-brigade, 
but  this  he  declined  to  do.  He  was  therefore 
put  in  charge  of  the  skirmish  line.  We  had  no  sooner  arrived 
at  the  suburbs  of  the  town  and  the  regiment  been  deployed,  than 
a  volley  was  fired  by  the  enemy's  pickets.  Our  men  made  a  rush 
for  them,  and  several  prisoners  were  captured. 

On  making  a  sharp  turn  in  the  road,  a  battery  opened  on  us 
with  shell — striking  the  head  of  the  column  and  making  quite  a 
flurry.  The  rear  guard  with  the  gun  had  thrown  up  breastworks, 
which  it  was  necessary  to  flank,  and  as  soon  as  they  were  driven 
out,  they  fell  back  to  another  line,  thus  fortifying  and  holding  us 
in  check  every  half  mile.  The  struggle  was  hard  until  near  noon, 
when  the  88th  relieved  us,  and  the  regiment,  after  cleaning  their 
guns  and  procuring  ammunition,  fell  to  the  rear  of  the  brigade, 
which,  however,  was  not  a  safe  place,  as  a  shell  soon  dropped 
among  us,  but  exploded  without  injury. 


ADVANCE    TO    ADAIRSVILLE.  587 

Everything  passed  off  smoothly  until  we  were  within  a  few 
miles  of  Adairsville,  when  suddenly  a  battery  opened  on  us  from 
the  front,  the  shells  falling  near  the   regiment.     One  of  them 
struck  a  barn  in  front  of  us,  and  exploding,  wounded  Capt.  E. 
Cass,  Company  D,  and  a  private  in  Company  I.     The  brigade 
was  immediately  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  36th  was  sent 
to  re-inforce  the  skirmish  line;  the  right  wing  to  the  right,  and 
the  left  to  the  left.     Instead  of  simply  a  rear-guard,  it  was  found 
that  there  was  in  our  front,  a  whole  division  of  infantry,  besides 
cavalry  and  artillery.     Indeed,  from  Johnston's  own  account,  we 
now  find  that  his  whole  army  was  close  by,  and  he  had  Cheat- 
ham's  Division  detailed  on   purpose  to  check  our  advance  until 
nightfall.     But  though  our  men  were  suffering  fearfully,  it  seemed 
impossible  for  our  leaders  to  believe  that  there  was  anything  in 
front  of  us  except  a  cavalry  rear-guard.     Lieut,  Turnbull,  on  the 
Brigade  Staff,  gives  a  lively  account  of  that  memorable  day  : 

'  Gen.  0.  0.  Howard,  our  Corps  Commander,  was  in  constant 
communication   with  the  front,  and  told  us  his  orders   were  to 
reach  Adairsville  that  day,  and  he  wanted  us  to  do  it.     Early  in 
the  afternoon,  our  boys  came  in  sight  of  a  rebel  wagon  train  and 
were  in   high  glee,  pressing  it  closely,  when  all  at  once,  on  pas 
sing  through  a  belt  of  woods,  they  came  upon  a  heavy  line  of 
infantry,  protected  by  good,  substantial  earthworks,  with  at  least 
one  battery  in  prominent  position.      The  enemy's  line  covered 
more  than   our  front   and   seemed   strong  at  all  points.     They 
opened  a  furious  fire   on  our  thin  line,  and  our  men  had  to  lie 
down  and   protect  themselves  as  best  they  could ;  many  being 
shot  while  lying  down,  on  parts  of  the  line  that  were  most  exposed. 
This  was   particularly  true  of  part  of  the  24th  Wisconsin  line. 
After  seeing  and   appreciating  the  situation,  I  reported  to  the 
Brigade    Commander,  Col.  F.  T.  Sherman,  and  asked  leave   to 


588  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

withdraw   portions   of  the  line  that  were  most  exposed  to  the 
enemy's  merciless  fire,  to  a  more  sheltered  position.     Col.  Sher 
man   said,  "  Let  us  see  Gen.  Howard."     He  was  near  and  we 
went  over  to  him  and  reported.     The  General  seemed  nervous 
and  irritable,  and  showed  plainly  that  he  did  not  believe  the 
report.      He  replied  by  saying,  "  Your  brigade  must  move  for 
ward.     We  are  to  go  on  to  Adairsville  to-night.     If  .you  do  not 
do  it,  I  will  move  my  troops  by  the  flank  right  through  your  line." 
He  then  asked,  "  What  force   do  you   think  you  have  in  your 
front  ?"     I  replied,  "At  least  a  division  of  infantry  and  several 
thousand  cavalry."   The  General  replied  sharply,  "It  is  not  true. 
I  have  information  through  my  scouts  every  few  minutes,  and 
you  only  have  part  of  a  brigade  of  mounted  infantry  in  your 
front.     Your  brigade  must  move  forward."     Stung  to  the  quick 
by  this  charge  of  cowardice  on  my  part,  I  replied  by  saying  that 
if  the  General  would  accompany  me  or  send  a  staff  officer  to  the 
front  with  me,  I  would  very  soon  convince  him  that  the  report 
was  correct.     He  did  not  see  proper  to  comply  with  the  request, 
and  it  was  probably  just  as  well,  for  I  was  then  in  the  humor  to 
have  taken  him  where  it  was  hot.    I  went  forward  again  and 
inspected  the  lines,  finding  no  change,  except  that  the  ranks  of 
our  boys  were  being  thinned,  without  their  having  any  oppor 
tunity  to  retaliate.     Hurt  by  the  thought  that  the  Commanding 
General  would  not  give  proper  support,  I  again  appealed  to  Col. 
Sherman  to  be  allowed  to  retire  the  line,  in  the  more  exposed 
parts,  but  he  thought  that,  under  the  circumstances,  it  would  not 
do.     I  then  returned   to  the  lines  and  longed  for  night  to  come 
and  stop  the  carnage.      Just  before  sunset,  some  troops  (I  was 
told  they  were   Stanley's  Division)  moved  up  and  took  position 
on  our  left,  somewhat  retired,  and  were  not  brought  under  fire. 
On  our  right  another  force  was  brought  up,  and  crossed  the  Goth- 


DISLODGING   SHARP-SHOOTERS.  589 

caloga,  but  one  well-directed  volley  from  the  enemy  forced  them 
back  to  a  safe  distance.  Night  soon  set  in  and  the  firing  ceased. 
"  Soon  after  nightfall,  my  Orderly,  Isaac  Carson,  known  as 
u  Ike,"  came  to  me  and  wanted  some  matches.  'What  do  you 
want  to  do  with  them,  Ike  ?'  I  said.  '  We  want  to  storm  those 
buildings  from  which  the  sharp-shooters  have  been  firing  at  our 
boys,'  said  he.  There  had  been  great  annoyance  given  our  men 
from  those  buildings.  Some  of  our  men  under  their  fire  had  to 
lie  in  one  position  all  the  afternoon,  without  moving  scarcely  a 
muscle.  I  gave  him  the  matches,  and  in  a  few  minutes  1  heard 
a  whoop,  a  few  shots,  and  in  a  very  short  time  all  that  was  wooden 
about  those  old  stone  buildings  was  blazing  nicely. 

"  During  the  afternoon  nearly  all  the  generals  whose  com 
mands  were  near,  assembled  at  the  spot  mentioned  by  Gen.  Sher 
man  in  his  Memoirs,  and  were  treated  once  in  a  while  to  a  saucy 
shot  from  a  battery  in  front.  Col.  Frank  Sherman  was  almost 
frantic,  and  appealed  for  help  for  his  brigade,  but  Gen.  Thomas 
and  others  told  him  that  he  could  not  have  it.  Some  have  found 
fault  with  him  for  not  handling  his  brigade  better,  but  with  one 
exception  I  think  he  was  not  to  blame.  In  my  judgment,  when 
he  found  that  it  was  impossible  to  move  his  command  forward, 
he  should  have  handled  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  better  protect  the 
lives  of  his  men.  But  with  Gen.  Howard's  determination  to 
move  forward,  I  suppose  he  was  i\ot  to  blame." 

Those  wounded  in  the  early  part  of  the  day  had  been  cared 
for,  but  when  Capt.  Cass  and  others  were  struck,  and  the  num 
ber  of  wounded  became  numerous,  it  was  necessary  to  take  pos 
session  of  a  neighboring  house.  Long  after  night  they  contin 
ued  to  stream  in,  until  every  part  of  the  house  and  all  around  in 
the  yard  was  covered  with  wounded  men — one  hundred  and  nine 
teen  in  all,  exclusive  of  those  wounded  during  the  day,  and 


590  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

mostly  from  our  brigade.  When  Capt.  Cass  was  having  his 
wound  dressed,  it  was  amusing  to  witness  his  anger,  not  simply 
at  his  being  struck,  but  that  he  should  be  struck  without  even 
the  dignity  of  being  hurt  in  battle.  "  They  will  ask  me  in  what 
battle  I  was  wounded,"  said  he,  "  and  I  shall  have  to  say  no 
battle  at  all,  but  only  a  miserable  skirmish."  He  may,  how 
ever,  have  the  consolation  of  knowing  now  that  Adairsville,  by 
reason  of  its  sharp  struggle  has  passed  into  history. 

Among  the  wounded  was  James  P.  Barton,  of  Company  C,  a 
new  recruit.  While  lying  down  under  fire,  a  minnie  ball  strik 
ing  a  rail  fence,  split  in  two,  and  one-half  struck  him  on  the  top 
of  his  head,  settling  into  the  brain.  All  the  night  he  was 
insensible,  and  next  morning  when  the  Surgeon  and  Chaplain 
went  forward  with  the  regiment,  the  latter  taking  his  list  of 
names  with  him,  Barton  was  sent  back  from  hospital  to  hospital 
until  lie  reached  Nashville,  no  one  being  able  to  give  his  name  or 
regiment.  On  examining  his  wound  the  Surgeon  found  lying  in 
the  brain  the  half  ball,  a  piece  of  his  hat  and  some  hair.  Soon 
after  removing  these,  his  speech  returned,  and  his  friends  heard 
of  him  after  a  full  month  of  anxious  suspense.  He  is  still  living. 

Next  day  we  moved  on,  passing  through  Adairsville,  and  while 
halting  there  Gen.  Osterhaus  came  to  see  the  regiment  and  made 
an  appropriate  speech  to  them.  They  greeted  him  with  three 
cheers.  Quite  a  large  number  of  prisoners  and  deserters  were 
brought  in.  Next  day  we  passed  through  Kingston,  and  on 
turning  to  the  left  towards  Cassville,  about  three  o'clock  we  came 
in  sight  of  the  enemy  in  line,  and  a  large  wagon  train.  Our 
corps  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  battery  was  opened 
on  the  train.  Hooker  also  came  up  on  our  left.  Heavy  firing 
of  artillery  and  skirmishing  continued  until  night,  when  we  went 
into  camp  about  eight  o'clock. 


CASUALTIES  NEAR  ADAIRSVILLE.  591 

It  now  appears  that  Johnston  was  preparing  to  give  battle  at 
Cassville,  and  had  arranged  his  army  accordingly,  but  the  dis 
satisfaction  of  some  of  his  generals  decided  him  to  withdraw 
beyond  the  Etowah.  A  battle  then  would  have  saved  us  from  a 
long  campaign. 

CASUALTIES  NEAR  ADAIRSVILLE. 

KILLED. 

John  Aldrich,  Sergt.  Co.  A ;  Franklin  Webber,  Co.  A ;  Jas.  Davis, 
Co.  C. 

WOUNDED — COMPANY    A. 

Corp.  Romaine  Kilburn,  face  and  breast;  H.  Haynes,  Louis  Miller,  A. 
Shaw. 

COMPANY  B. 

Joseph  McGee,  wrist. 

COMPANY  C. 

James  P.  Barton,  head;  J.  W.  McCoy;  S.  N.  Wilson,  hand. 

COMPANY  D. 

Capt.  E.  P.  Cass,  leg;  Sergt.  W.  T.  Maycroft,  head;  Allen  Alvord, 
hip;  Eben  Gates,  jaw. 

COMPANY  F. 

Lieut.  L.  P.  Southworth,  arm;  E.  H.  Strait,  side;  C.  K.  Johnson, 
arm;  Canute  Phillips,  thigh;  Geo.  A.  ("ummings,  hip:  Edwin  Dopp, 
leg;  J.  H.  Roots,  shoulder. 

COMPANY  H. 

Sergt.  Albert  Wolfe,  thigh;  Chas.  Irish,  finger. 

COMPANY  I. 

Sergt.  Geo.  W.  Avery,  heel;  Corp.  H.  Lowry,  side;  Saml.  Mall,  foot. 

COMPANY  K. 
Corp.  R.  H.  Starr,  leg. 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 

DALLAS. 

'FTER  nearly  three  weeks  of  hard  campaigning,  we 
were  glad  to  remain  a  few  days  to  rest  in  Cassville, 
the  enemv  having  retreated  bevond  the  Etowah. 
The  railroad  bridge  at  Resaca  was  quickly  rebuilt, 
the  trains  came  up  with  full  rations,  and  we  had  the 
telegraph  wires  right  into  camp.  The  time  was 
spent  in  bathing,  washing,  writing  letters  and  sleeping.  Gen. 
Sherman  issued  an  order  encouraging  the  men  to  write  home, 
and  ordering  all  chaplains  and  officers  to  aid  them  even  to  the 
extent  of  supplying  them  with  paper,  if  necessary. 

On  Sunday,  May  22nd,  we  had  service  twice,  and  at  night 
the  whole  army  received  orders  to  march.  Brig.  Gen.  Kimball 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  brigade,  and  Col.  Sherman 
was  detailed  as  Chief  of  Staff  to  Gen.  Howard,  probably  as  an 
acknowledgment  that  he  had  been  unjustly  dealt  with  in  the 
Adairsville  fight.  We  broke  up  camp  about  noon  on  Monday, 
the  23rd,  and  went  into  town  ;  while  all  the  rest  of  the  troops 
moved  forward,  we  were  detailed  as  rear  guard  to  the  corps  train, 
and  lay  around  until  eight  o'clock  before  we  could  start.  The 
route  taken  by  the  army  was  not  in  direct  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 


HOOKER   AT    PUMPKIN    VINE    CREEK.  593 

but  towards  Dallas,  for  Sherman  had  decided  not  even  to  attempt 
to  take  in  front  the  stronghold  at  Allatoona.  We  had  a  tedious 
march  all  night,  arriving  at  Etowah  bridge  about  half-past  three 
o'clock,  as  the  other  troops  were  sounding  reveille.  After  cross 
ing  the  covered  bridge  we  prepared  breakfast,  which  we  had 
scarcely  time  to  swallow  before  we  were  ordered  to  join  the  brig 
ade.  The  trains  filled  the  road  and  we  found  it  very  hard  to 
march  by.  The  men  were  exhausted  from  loss  of  sleep,  and 
just  as  we  got  into  camp  at  night  a  thunder-storm  broke  on  us, 
and  we  lay  out  all  night  in  the  rain,  covered  as  well  as  possible 
with  our  rubbers. 

Next  day  we  halted  for  coffee,  which  was  just  boiling,  when 
orders  came  to  fall  in  and  hasten  forward.  Hooker,  who  was  in 
the  advance,  had  come  upon  the  enemy  at  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek, 
and  needed  support.  On  reaching  the  bridge,  we  saw  that 
attempts  had  been  made  to  burn  it.  By  this  time,  Hooker  had 
rallied  his  Corps  and  was  driving  the  enemy.  As  we  came  up 
in  line  of  battle,  a  very  severe  engagement  with  both  artillery 
and  infantry  took  place,  and  the  enemy  fell  back  to  his  chosen 
position,  at  the  junction  of  the  roads  near  New  Hope  Church. 
It  was  some  time  before  we  could  reach  our  place,  and  night 
came  on  and  then  a  heavy  rain  storm,  which  made  it  impossible 
to  make  camp  in  any  order,  and  only  by  calling  out  to  each  other 
could  we  find  out  where  we  were.  This  contusion  came  near 
costing  us  dearly,  and  it  was  only  by  the  wounding  of  one  of 
our  best  officers  that  our  critical  condition  was  found  out.  About 
three  o'clock  next  morning,  Lieuts.  Turnbull  and  Jackson,  of  the 
Brigade  Staff,  went  out  to  inspect  the  lines.  They  heard  men  in 
front  throwing  up  breastworks,  who  greeted  them  with  a  volley, 
which  wounded  both,  but  the  attention  of  Gen.  Howard  was 
thereby  drawn  to  the  condition  of  our  lines,  and  intrenching 
soon  commenced. 


594  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Here  the  armies  remained  in  close  proximity  and  in  deadly 
conflict  day  and  night.  The  regiment  was  under  fire  for  ten  days, 
for  though  they  were  regularly  relieved  from  the  front  line  and 
reserve,  the  third  line  and  the  rear  were  not  out  of  range.  Cor 
poral  James  Royds,  of  Company  G,  an  elderly  man,  much 
respected  by  his  comrades,  and  known  among  them  by  the  title 
of  "  Old  Reliable,"  was  sitting  on  a  stone  fence,  smoking  his 
pipe  and  unsuspicious  of  danger,  as  the  regiment  was  off  duty 
and  resting  in  the  rear  of  the  works,  when  a  rebel  sharp-shooter, 
perched  in  a  tree,  from  which  he  commanded  a  view  of  our  men, 
shot  him  dead.  As  his  body  was  laid  away  in  the  grave,  tears 
fell  like  rain  from  the  eyes  of  his  comrades,  whose  love  for  Father 
Royds  was  that  of  children  for  a  parent.  One  day  Gen.  Kim- 
ball  desiring  information  about  the  enemy's  line,  Geo.  Scales, 
Company  K,  volunteered  to  climb  a  tall  pine  tree,  which  he  did 
in  the  sight  of  the  enemy  and  in  the  teeth  of  a  murderous  fire, 
remaining  there  some  time,  and  receiving  two  shots  which  slightly 
wounded  him. 

Th*1  rifle  pits  and  skirmish  lines  of  the  two  armies  were  very 
close  to  each  other,  so  that  ordinary  conversation  could  be  dis 
tinctly  heard  within  the  opposite  entrenchments,  whenever  there 
was  a  lull  in  the  firing.  Many  were  the  tricks  they  played  and 
messages  they  sent  to  each  other.  Charges,  too,  were  frequently 
made  on  both  sides,  in  which  the  assailants  were  generally  unsuc 
cessful,  and  had  to  pay  dearly  in  killed  and  wounded.  These 
charges  were  preceded  by  much  shouting  and  yelling  by  those 
who  made  them,  so  that  the  party  assailed  learned  to  be  on  the 
lookout,  and  rose  from  behind  their  works  to  deliver  their  fire. 
This  led  to  a  ruse  by  the  2nd  and  3rd  Brigades.  The  bugler 
blew  the  double-quick  call,  which  was  followed  by  a  yell.  The 
enemy  thinking  a  charge  was  to  be  made,  rose  up,  and  a  volley 


ASSAULTS    ON    OtJR    LINES.  595 

both  of  musketry  and  artillery  was  poured  into  them,  with  terri 
ble  effect. 

Our  Division  Hospital  was  located  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
to  the  rear,  and  thither  our  wounded  were  conveyed  in  ambu 
lances.  The  first  two  days  the  casualties  were  very  heavy ;  after 
that,  the  men  being  more  protected  by  their  works,  the  number 
decreased  rapidly.  As  occasion  offered,  religious  services  were 
held,  sometimes  in  the  hospital  street,  sometimes  in  the  tents. 
On  Sabbath  evening  the  Chaplain  preached  a  short  discourse, 
within  the  hearing  of  as  many  as  possible.  After  service,  we 
were  all  impressed  with  the  absolute  silence  on  the  lines,  and  felt 
that  something  was  about  to  happen.  Precisely  at  ten  o'clock,  a 
furious  assault  was  made  on  our  part  of  the  line,  which,  how 
ever,  was  speedily  repulsed,  at  which  a  loud  cheer  broke  from 
our  boys.  This  had  scarcely  ceased,  before  a  tremendous  attack 
was  made  on  our  extreme  right,  at  Dallas.  The  firing  continued 
three  hours,  but  the  enemy  was  repulsed  at  every  point.  It 
seemed  a  terrible  thing  to  our  wounded  men  to  lie  there  and  feel 
that  if  our  lines  should  give  way,  they  would  be  at  the  mercy  of 
their  enemies.  Not  only  was  our  ground  held,  but  Sherman  was 
gradually  moving  up  his  left,  until  he  had  covered  the  roads  to 
Ackworth  and  Allatoona,  and  was  preparing  to  draw  out  and  fall 
back  on  the  railroad,  when  Johnston  himself  fell  back,  and  on 
Sunday  morning,  June  5th,  our  men  occupied  his  works.  They 
proved  to  be  very  strong,  and  impregnable  to  direct  attack.  The 
dead  between  the  lines  had  not  been  buried.  The  trees  opposite 
our  brigade  were  very  thick,  and  nearly  all  of  them  in  a  dying 
state  from  the  effects  of  shot  and  shell. 

Arrangements  were  immediately  made  to  move  our  hospitals 
and  trains  over  to  Ackworth,  our  new  base.  We  had  a  large 
number  of  badly  wounded  men  who  were  in  poor  condition  for 


596  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

such  a  trip,  but  there  was  no  help  for  it.  The  first  night  we 
went  about  four  miles.  The  next  morning  we  were  favored  with 
some  exquisite  music  from  one  of  the  bands  belonging  to  the 
Regular  Army,  the  effect  of  which  on  the  wounded  men  was 
most  inspiring.  We  had  a  weary  day's  travel  to  Ackworth,  and 
did  not  arrive  until  long  after  dark.  When  the  tents  wrere  set 
up  and  the  wounded  all  cared  for,  it  was  near  midnight,  and 
everybody  worn  out. 

In  the  meantime  the  brigade  had  been  detached  from  the  corps, 
and  left  to  protect  the  flank  and  rear  while  the  hospitals  were 
being  moved  over.  They  had  built  breastworks  facing  west, 
when  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  the  Rebel  cavalry  came  up  and 
fired  a  few  shots,  but  they  fell  back,  losing  some  prisoners.  The 
Quartermaster  Sergeant,  J.  Terrell,  and  Post  boy,  C.  Kingman, 
were  just  outside  our  pickets,  bathing,  when  the  cavalry  came 
up,  and  took  them  oft'  without  giving  them  time  to  dress.  Our 
pickets  fired  on  them,  when  one  ran  oft',  leaving  his  prisoner. 
The  other  turned  and  emptied  his  carbine  at  our  pickets,  when 
his  prisoner  (Terrell)  seized  him  by  his  beard  and  pulled  him  off" 
his  horse,  giving  him  no  time  to  draw  his  sabre,  and  shoved  him 
before  him  until  he  could  give  him  up  to  the  picket,  then  returned 
and  got  his  clothes. 

As  soon  as  the  hospitals,  etc.,  had  been  safely  removed,  the. 
brigade  joined  the  army  at  Ackworth,  where  they  rested  until 
Friday,  the  10th.  We  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  good  many  deli 
cacies  from  the  Christian  Commission  for  our  wounded,  and  were 
able  to  make  them  very  comfortable.  Besides  special  services 
for  them,  on  Thursday  night  the  Chaplain  preached  to  the  regi 
ment.  Here  we  parted  with  two  men  who  were  always  great 
favorites,  Sergt.  Ordway  and  Lieut.  Turnbull.  Ordway  had 
suffered  amputation  at  the  shoulder,  and  but  for  his  reduced  con- 


LIEUT.  TURNBULL'S  NARRATIVE.  597 

dition  would  have  done  well.  Two  days  after  we  left  he  died 
quietly,  regretted  by  all  his  comrades.  Lieut.  Turnbull  had  the 
pleasure  of  welcoming  his  father  the  very  day  we  left,  and  soon 
was  able  to  return  home  and  resume  the  duties  of  civil  life.  He 
has  written  out  an  account  of  his  experience  at  Dallas,  a  portion 
of  which  we  insert,  which  cannot  fail  to  interest  every  surviving 
member  of  the  36th.  We  regret  that  we  have  not  room  for  it  all. 
LIEUT.  TURNBULL'S  NARRATIVE. 

On  coming  down  from  the  mountain  spur  and  nearing  Pump 
kin  Vine  Creek,  we  heard  firing  ahead,  and  were  soon  informed 
that  Hooker  had  met  the  enemy  and  was  engaged  in  a  sharp 
fight.  Our  division  was  ordered  forward  to  support  him.  This 
was  done  with  all  speed,  and  on  nearing  the  field,  our  brigade 
formed  in  line  of  battle  and  moved  forward  in  the  direction  of 
the  firing.  Darkness  set  in  and  the  firing  ceased.  As  soon  as 
portions  of  Hooker's  line  were  reached,  the  troops  in  our  front 
commenced  moving  back  through  our  lines,  and  we  were  left  in 
the  dark,  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy.  A  detail  for  picket 
was  at  once  made,  and  I,  as  Brigade  Inspector,  charged  with  the 
responsibility  of  placing  them.  We  formed  a  line  on  our  right, 
which  we  took  for  a  starting  point,  and  commenced  stationing  the 
men  from  right  to  left  of  our  brigade  front.  The  night  was 
intensely  dark  and  the  ground  covered  thickly  with  pine  and 
cedar.  We  had  no  guide,  and  could  only  get  the  location  of  the 
enemy's  line,  by  drawing  their  fire,  or  hearing  them.  We  how 
ever  got  our  lines  formed  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy's  lines, 
about  midnight,  and  I  returned  through  the  rain  and  darkness 
to  Brigade  Headquarters  (located  under  a  large  pine  tree)  and 
reported  to  Gen.  Kimball. 

Soon  after  my  return,  Gen.  Wagner,  commander  of  one  of  the 
brigades  on  our  left,  came  over  to  our  headquarters  (and  being 
from  Indiana,  he  was  was  well  acquainted  with  Gen.  Kimball) 
and  asked  the  General  if  he  knew  how  he  (Kimball)  had  his  line 
of  battle  formed.  Kimball  said  he  thought  it  was  all  right. 
Wagner  remarked  that  he  had  his  formed;  "  but,"  said  he,  with 


598  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

an  oath,  "  I  believe  I  have  rny  men's  backs  to  the  enemy."  This 
will  give  you  some  idea  of  the  confusion  and  uncertainty  about 
our  lines  at  that  time.  I  laid  down  in  the  rain  and  tried  to  sleep. 
Meeting  with  only  partial  success,  I  was  aroused  about  two  o'clock 
A.  M.,  by  some  horseman  inquiring  of  the  sentinel,  if  that  was 
Gen.  Kimball's  Headquarters.  On  arousing  the  General,  who 
was  sleeping  under  a  tree,  the  officer  asked  him  if  he  was  aware 
that  there  was  a  line  of  our  men  in  front  of  his  brigade.  He 
said  he  was  not,  and  called  me.  I  at  once  responded  that  I  had 
very  good  evidence  that  such  was  not  the  fact.  The  officer  (a 
stranger  to  me)  persisted  that  I  was  mistaken,  and  that  there 
certainly  was  a  line  of  our  men  in  front.  Gen.  Kimball  at 
this  point,  very  properly  said  to  me,  u  Go  and  see  what  is  in 
our  front."  I  at  once  rose  to  start,  and  Lieut.  Jackson,  of 
the  88th  Illinois,  Acting  Provost  Marshal,  hearing  the  order, 
said  he  would  accompany  me.  We  went  to  the  right  of  our 
picket  line  and  asked  one  of  the  men  standing  on  picket  what 
there  was  in  our  front.  He  replied,  "Rebels."  I  said,  "Are 
you  sure  they  are  Rebels?  Might  they  not  be  our  own  men  ?" 
His  answer  was,  "  No ;  I  can  hear  them  throwing  up  works 
quietly,  and  we  will  find  out  who  is  there  as  soon  as  it  is  day 
light."  Just  at  this  juncture,  a  soldier  came  up  from  the  rear, 
who,  after  being  halted  by  the  picket,  was  asked  what  he  wanted. 
"  I  want  to  go  to  my  regiment."  was  the  reply.  "  Where  is 
your  regiment?"  "  In  front."  He  \vas  asked  what  regiment, 
brigade  and  division  he  belonged  to,  and  gave  correctly,  as  we 
had  been  informed,  the  troops  we  had  relieved.  I  said  to  him, 
"  My  good  fellow,  you  have  lost  your  bearings.  You  have  lain 
down  and  had  a  sleep,  and  while  sleeping,  your  regiment  has 
moved  to  the  rear."  Somewhat  exasperated  at  being  charged 
with  going  to  the  rear  to  take  a  sleep,  he  swore  that  he  "  knew 
what  he  was  doing,"  and  wanted  to  pass  through  to  his  regi 
ment.  I  then  said  to  the  picket,  'k  Let  him  pass  through."  As 
soon  as  he  had  passed,  Jackson  said,  "  Turnbull,  that  man  knows 
what  he  is  about.  Let  us  go  out  with  him.  You  know  our 
orders."  I  replied,  "I  know  the  orders  of  the  General,  and  I 
also  know  that  those  are  Rebels  in  our  front,  but  as  you  have 


LIEUT.  TURNBULL'S  NARRATIVE.  599 

asked  to  accompany  me  to  the  front,  I  can  do  no  less  than  com 
ply  with  the  request." 

We  started,  and  with  my  usual  caution,  I  requested  Jackson 
to  keep  a  few  paces  to  my  left  while  we  moved  forward  quietly, 
keeping  our  eyes  on  our  comrade  in  search  of  h's  regiment. 
Presently  I  saw  him  stop.  I  did  so,  and  signalled  Jackson.  On 
looking  past  our  stranger  I  could  see  another  man  a  few  steps  to 
his  right  and  front.  I  could  also  see  some  logs  or  works  thrown 
up,  and  imagined  that  I  ought  to  be  able  to  tell  which  side  of 
those  works  the  man  was  standing  on.  The  clouds  had  broken 
up  somewhat,  and  the  moon  shone  faintly  through  the  tree  tops. 
In  my  anxiety  to  trace  the  outline  of  the  object,  I  unconsciously 
stepped  out  from  the  shadow  of  the  tree  by  which  I  had  been 
standing,  and  very  soon  saw  the  gleam  of  a  musket  as  the  soldier 

was  bringing  it  to  an  aim,  followed  quickly  by  a  flash,  and I 

was  wounded.  My  friend,  who  was  in  search  of  his  regiment, 
convinced  that  it  was  not  there,  made  good  time  to  the  rear. 
Jackson,  brave  and  fearless  to  a  fault,  had,  unnoticed  by  me, 
slipped  over  by  my  side,  and  simultaneous  with  the  report  of 
the  Rebel  musket,  exclaimed,  "My  God,  Turnbull,  I  am 
wounded,"  and  he,  too,  wisely  started  for  the  rear.  Seeing  at 
once  the  situation  in  which  I  was  placed,  I  unhooked  my  sabre 
(a  cavalry  one)  from  the  belt,  which  served  me  as  a  cane  and 
enabled  me  to  stand,  took  a  look  at  the  person  that  had  shot  me, 
grasped  my  revolver,  and  then  concluded  as  I  was  between  the 
picket  lines  and  would  certainly  draw  the  fire  from  our  own  men 
as  well  as  the  foe,  that  "  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor," 
quietly  returned  it  to  the  holster  and  hobbled  back  to  our  lines. 
On  reaching  our  picket  line,  Jackson  was  very  much  surprised  to 
find  me  wounded,  as  he  had  not  suspected  it,  when  he  left  me. 
We  soon  reached  Brigade  Headquarters,  and  surprised  Gen. 
Kimball  somewhat  by  assuring  him  that  we  could  state  positively 
what  was  in  our  front,  as  we  were  both  wounded.  Receiving  the 
sympathies  of  the  headquarters,  from  the  cook  to  the  General 
commanding,  and  a  hasty  examination  by  Brigade  Surgeon  Pierce, 
we  were  placed  each  on  one  horse,  and  accompanied  by  Gen. 


600  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Kimball,  proceeded  to  Division  Headquarters  (Gen.  Newton 
commanding)  and  reported  to  him,  through  Geri.  K.,  that  our 
lines  were  very  much  exposed,  and  as  it  was  now  near  daylight, 
would  soon  suffer  severely  from  the  enemy's  fire.  Gen.  Newton 
replied,  that  he  would  like  to  change  our  lines,  but  could  not 
assume  the  responsibility.  Disheartened  by  the  thought  that 
our  brave  comrades  would  soon  be  under  a  merciless  fire,  at  great 
disadvantage,  and  suffering  from  our  wounds,  we  bade  Gen.  Kim- 
ball  good-bye  and  started  to  the  rear,  to  find,  if  possible,  a  resting 
place.  We  had  not  gone  far  when  we  met  Gen.  0.  0.  Howard, 
our  Corps  Commander,  who,  recognizing  us,  asked  us  about  the 
condition  of  the  lines  in  front.  I  told  him  heartily  our  experi 
ence,  the  exposed  condition  of  our  men,  and  urged  a  withdrawal 
of  our  lines  to  a  more  sheltered  position.  Putting  spurs  to  his 
horse,  he  moved  hastily  to  the  front  and  we  resumed  our  journey 
to  the  rear  in  search  of  a  resting  place.  Re-crossing  the  classic 
"  Pumpkin  Vine,"  and  seeing  a  small  frame  building  on  our  left, 
minus  weather  boarding,  near  the  road  over  which  the  troops 
were  passing,  we  turned  our  horses  toward  it,  and  on  examination, 
Jackson  and  I  concluded  to  start  a  hospital.  Assisted  by  com 
rades,  we  dismounted,  and  were  soon  lying  side  by  side  on  our 
blankets  under  the  roof  of  the  frame.  For  the  first  time  an 
opportunity  was  given  to  carefully  examine  our  wounds,  disclos 
ing  the  fact  that  we  had  received  the  contents  of  an  old  U.  S. 
Army  cartridge,  a  round  ball  and  three  buckshots ;  one  buckshot 
hitting  a  finger  on  Jackson's  right  hand,  another  penetrating 
his  groin,  and  the  third  passing  almost  through  my  left  knee — 
the  large  ball  passing  betwreen  us,  clipping  my  clothing  in  front 
and  Jackson's  in  rear. 

We  now  began  to  realize  our  situation.  Our  army  was  on  the 
march.  There  was  no  hospital  established  near  us.  We  were 
seriously  wounded  ;  lying  in  the  midst  of  a  wilderness,  and  at 
least  twenty  rniles  from  the  nearest  point  on  the  railroad.  Jack 
son  and  I  were  both  alarmed  about  his  wound  in  the  groin,  and 
I  was  satisfied,  from  the  indications,  that  my  limb  would  have 
to  be  amputated.  Would  we  live  to  rejoin  our  families  and  again 


TUKNBULL'S  NARRATIVE.  601 

form  part  of  the  family  circle  ?  was  the  question  discussed  by  us. 
We  were  both  married  men,  and  each  was  fully  convinced  that 
he  had  the  best  wife  and  some  of  the  prettiest  children  that  could 
be  found  in  any  place,  north  or  south.    But  we  were  riot  allowed 
to  become  despondent.     Kind  comrades  by  hundreds,  on  passing, 
stepped  off'  the  road  to  take  a  look  at  the  wounded  officers,  and 
although  nearly  all  strangers  to  us,  except  that  they  "  wore  the 
blue,"  they  kept  us  supplied  with  the  best  fresh  water  they  could 
get,  to  appease  our  thirst  and  cool  our  wounds.     They  gave  us 
food,  and  rendered  a  thousand  little  kindnesses,  that  can  neither 
be  described  nor  forgotten.     One  Commissary  Sergeant,  on  dis 
covering  us,  and  knowing  what  officers  were  supposed  to  like, 
walked  back  a  mile  and  got  us  a  canteen  full  of  what  was  there 
known  as  "Commissary,"  brought  and  left  it  with  us — depriving 
himself,  as  I  verily  believe,  of  the  only  canteen  he  had  to  carry 
water  to   slake  his  own  thirst  on  that  weary  march.     How  can 
persons  forget  such   kindnesses  ?      Or  how  could  they  become 
despondent  when  those  grim-visaged  and  sunburned   "  soldier 
boys  "  all  had  a  word  of  encouragement.     They  could  go  into 
battle  and  face   death,  but  when  they  met  a  wounded  comrade, 
they  were  gentle  as  a  woman,  and  could   handle  one  with  that 
lightness  of  touch  that  at  once  indicates  the  skillful  nurse.     It 
brings  tears  to  my   eyes  yet,  when  I  think  of  that  day,  and  of 
the  thousand  unpremeditated  kind  acts  rendered  by  those  com 
rades.     It  did  much  to  convince  me  that  we  often  judge  wrongly 
those  hardy,   blunt  specimens   of  our  race,  by  looking  on    the 
exterior,  and  give  no   opportunity  to  draw  out  those  finer  feel 
ings  that  they  all  possess. 

Passing  a  tolerably  uncomfortable  night,  an  ambulance  was 
sent  for  us  in  the  morning,  and  we  were  taken  to  the  Field  Hos 
pital,  which  had  been  established  nearer  the  front  than  we  had 
been  lying.  We  had  our  wounds  carefully  examined  by  skillful 
surgeons,  with  the  following  result:  Jackson  got  what  they 
called  a  "  twenty  days  home,"  and  I— got  my  leg^  cut  off.  The 
operation  was  skillfully  performed  by  Dr.  W.  P.  Pierce,  assisted 
by  an  able  and  sympathetic  corps  of  surgeons,  who  by  a  judi- 


602  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

cious  use  of  chloroform,  rendered  it  entirely  painless,  not  allow 
ing  me  to  wake  up  until  the  last  pin  was  put  in  the  bandage 
enclosing  my  mutilated  limb.  I  took  a  last  look  at  what  had 
been  my  faithful  support  through  life,  and  with  feelings  that  can 
not  be  described,  was  carried  to  the  cot  prepared  for  me. 

CASUALTIES  NEAR  DALLAS. 

KILLED. 

John  Green,  Co.  F  ;  William  Thompson,  Co.  F ;  Joseph  Hook,  James 
Royde,  Co.  G-;  Martin  flighbrick,  Co.  I;  Geo.  W.  Gates,  Co.  K. 

WOUNDED  -  COMPANY    A. 

1st  Sergt.  W.  Ordway,  arm  amputated,  died  at  Ackworth,  June  12th; 
Charles  A.  Halsey,  arm  broken. 

COMPANY  B. 
Elihu  Mayhew,   arm ;    Fritz  Wilkinson,   thigh ;    W.  Edwards,  head  ; 

Sidney  Kendall,  hand. 

COMPANY  c. 

Lieut.  J.  M.  Turnbull,  leg  amputated  ;  James  W.  Black,  finger. 

COMPANY  D. 

Seth  Darling,  head,  died  June  1st;  William  Duckworth,  finger. 

COMPANY  E. 

James  Stokes,  arm. 

COMPANY  F. 

Sergt.  B.  Thompson,  leg. 

COMPANY  G. 

Robert  Bradshaw,  neck ;  Ellis  Hulsizer,  breast  and  hand. 

COMPANY  I. 

1st  Sergt.  James  F.  Ferris,  leg. 

COMPANY  K. 

Lieut.  Chas.  Hazelhurst,  back ;  Harrison  W.  Blank,  knee ;  Jas.  Hazel- 
hurst,  forehead  ;  Seneca  Birdsall,  leg. 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

KENESAW. 

EN.  JOHNSTON,  after  abandoning  his  strong  works 
at  New  Hope  Church,  occupied  a  new  line  extend 
ing  over  a  series  of  hills,  reaching  from  Kenesaw  on 
his  right  to  Lost  Mountain  on  his  left,  with  Pine 
Mountain  as  his  advanced  centre.  McPherson 
operated  against  Kenesaw,  Schofield  against  Lost,  and  Thomas 
against  Pine  Mountain.  We  started  from  Ackworth  on  Friday, 
June  10th,  but  the  advance  coming  upon  the  enemy's  skirmish 
ers  at  once,  and  we  being  in  the  rear,  our  progress  was  very  slow, 
only  about  five  miles  the  first  day.  A  heavy  rain  storm  set  in 
which  lasted  until  the  following  Tuesday,  bringing  all  active 
operations  to  a  halt.  But  while  gloom  seemed  to  rest  over 
everything,  we  had  one  bright  spot  in  the  knowledge  that 
we  were  not  dependent  upon  wagon  trains  for  supplies,  the 
railroad  being  repaired,  and  the  whistle  of  the  locomotive  heard 
right  up  to  the  skirmish  line.  Big  Shanty,  in  sight  of  Kene 
saw,  was  now  our  base.  On  Tuesday,  14th,  operations  were 
resumed,  and  that  day  Gen.  Polk  was  killed  by  a  shot  from  a 
battery  fired  close  by  us.  On  Wednesday,  knapsacks  were 
thrown  off  and  preparations  made  for  a  charge,  but  it  was  found 
unnecessary.  The  next  day  was  a  busy  one  entrenching  in  two 


604  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

positions  under  fire,  and  Gen.  Sherman  came  down  and  lying 
behind  the  low  breastworks,  examined  the  ground  and  talked 
with  the  men.  Luther  W.  Gates,  Company  D,  was  wounded  in 
the  shoulder.  A  work  was  thrown  up  for  twelve  guns  which 
were  mounted  during  the  night,  but  the  position  being  now 
untenable,  Johnston  gave  up  his  centre  and  fell  behind  Mud 
Creek.  The  next  day  was  spent  in  finding  his  position,  and  at 
night  his  skirmishers  were  driven  across  the  creek.  Twice  dur 
ing  the  night  he  attempted  to  drive  off  our  skirmishers,  but  was 
repulsed.  Just  as  it  became  light  we  surprised  him  by  a  sud 
den  attack,  securing  a  portion  of  his  main  line,  and  capturing 
quite  a  number  of  prisoners.  This  was  done  in  a  drenching 
rain-storm,  and  as  we  waited  in  reserve  at  the  top  of  a  hill,  the 
poor  fellows  captured  presented  a  most  woe-begone  appearance 
while  filing  past  us.  Immediately  the  whole  division  was  ordered 
forward  to  hold  the  ground  thus  gained,  and  having  crossed  Mud 
Creek  (it  was  worthy  of  its  name),  went  into  position  on  the 
second  line.  The  enemy  opened  with  both  artillery  and  mus 
ketry,  but  after  a  while  one  of  our  batteries  came  up  and  kept 
theirs  tolerably  quiet.  Five  of  our  men  were  wounded  :  L.  P. 
Boyd,  Company  D,  both  thighs;  M.  .C.  Skinner,  Company  E, 
foot  struck  by  a  round  shot  which  went  through  Silas  Dyer's 
haversack — foot  afterward  amputated  ;  William  Plctch,  Com 
pany  F,  side;  Chris.  Thake,  Company  I,  contusion,  and  John 
Shields,  slight. 

This  day's  operations  proved  so  decisive,  that  the  enemy  evac 
uated  during  the  night,  and  fell  back  to  his  third  and  strongest 
position,  on  Kenesaw,  by  which  he  was  directly  in  front  of  Mari 
etta,  and  well  protected,  both  on  his  flanks  and  his  centre,  and 
his  line  being  shorter,  his  troops  were  more  concentrated.  Our 
division  was  thrown  forward  at  once ;  the  36th  with  orders  to 


SERGEANT    KELLEY'S   ADVENTURE.  605 

join  on  the  right  of  Baird's  Division.  The  skirmishers  went 
forward,  but  in  consequence  of  the  roughness  of  the  country,  it 
was  near  noon  before  the  rest  of  the  regiment  could  find  them. 
The  position  to  which  they  were  assigned  was  in  front  of  Kenesaw. 
The  ground  over  which  they  had  to  skirmish  was  so  covered  with 
underbrush,  especially  where  it  sloped  down  to  the  creek  in  the 
hollow,  that  no  line  could  be  kept,  and  our  men  could  not  be  distin 
guished  from  the  enemy  at  even  a  short  distance.  The  day  there 
fore  became  fruitful  of  surprises  and  strange  adventures  on  both 
sides.  We  captured  twenty-five  prisoners,  including  four  officers  ; 
some  under  very  peculiar  circumstances.  One  captain  and  a  squad 
were  in  the  act  of  relieving  their  guards,  when,  mistaking  our 
men  for  theirs,  they  were  brought  in. 

Sergeant  Kelley,  commanding  Company  A,  saw,  as  he  made 
his  way  through  the  thick  brush,  three  men  in  an  open  space, 
whom  he  supposed  to  be  ours,  and  advanced  towards  them,  but  » 
becoming  suspicious,  he  inquired  their  regiment.  u  30th  Georgia," 
was  the  reply.  As  retreat  was  impossible,  he  boldly  demanded 
their  surrender,  seizing  the  largest  one  by  the  collar.  Two  of 
them  were  disposed  to  yield,  but  the  third  shot  at  Kelley,  who 
knocked  the  gun  to  one  side,  so  that  the  charge  passed  through 
his  clothes,  without  injuring  him.  It  was  now  his  turn  to  sur 
render,  which  he  did,  and  requested  to  be  taken  to  the  rear.  But 
the  Rebel  who  had  just  fired,  proceeded  to  load  again,  with  the 
avowed  intention  of  shooting  him.  Seeing  it  was  death  any 
way,  Kelley  broke  for  our  lines — the  shot  fired  after  him  graz 
ing  his  head  and  stunning  him  for  an  instant ;  but  he  quickly 
rejoined  his  company,  who,  seeing  him  fall,  had  supposed  him 
dead. 

Company  C  was  commanded  that  day  by  Sergt.  Wilson,  with 
orders  to  line  on   Company  I.     In  charging  through  the  brush, 


606  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

however,  they  got  considerably  in  the  advance,  and  Wilson 
becoming  anxious  about  his  connections,  gave  the  order,  "  Lie 
down."  In  passing  down  the  line,  Jacob  Moss  was  shot  directly 
from  the  right,  and  Wilson  supposing  it  to  come  from  some  care 
less  fellow  in  Company  I,  ran  in  that  direction,  when  he  caught 
sight  of  five  Rebels,  standing  at  a  tree  a  few  feet  off,  loading 
and  firing.  They  called,  "  surrender,"  but  having  always  felt  a 
greater  fear  of  being  taken  prisoner  than  of  being  killed,  after 
pausing  an  instant  and  seeing  them  raise  their  muskets,  he 
made  a  turn  and  escaped  as  if  shot  from  a  twelve-pounder, 
the  bullets  clipping  the  brush  about  him.  As  he  came  near 
his  men,  he  ordered,  "  Company  C  retreat,"  and  going  back 
about  thirty  rods,  found  Company  I  still  in  its  place.  This, 
he  thinks,  was  the  worst  scare  he  ever  had,  and  the  boys  said 
that  his  eyes  were  ag  big  as  saucers  for  an  hour  afterward. 

As  Company  D  advanced  through  the  thick  brush,  an  order 
was  heard,  "Right  and  left  forward,"  which  proved  to  be  from 
the  Rebel  side ;  but  the  lines  being  so  near  together,  both  obeyed, 
and  were  brought  face  to  face — only  their  numbers  were  three  to 
one  of  ours.  Picking  their  men,  they  fired  arid  then  fell  back  a  little 
way.  ThorThorson  confronted  an  officer  and  four  men.  They  called 
on  him  to  surrender.  "  Not  with  a  loaded  gun,"  said  he,  and  fired 
at  the  officer.  Noticing  as  he  ran  that  the  men  aimed  low,  he 
leaped  up  as  they  fired,  escaping  all  the  bullets  but  one,  which 
wounded  him  in  the  thigh,  but  not  so  as  to  hinder  his  getting  away. 
The  officer  was  afterward  found  dead.  John  C.  Taylor  was 
wounded  in  the  shoulder,  while  attempting  to  carry  Gaylord 
behind  a  tree.  When  we  fell  back,  the  Rebs  did  not  come  out 
of  the  brush,  and  soon  our  men  rallied  and  drove  them  across  the 
creek — part  over  a  bridge  and  the  rest  through  the  mud  and 
water.  On  the  other  side,  Joe  Whitman  was  in  hot  pursuit 


HIS  SWEETHEART'S  SWORD.  607 

of  a  Reb,  who  drew  him  on  to  re-inforcements.  Now  it  was  Joe's 
turn  to  run  back,  and  as  he  jumped  into  the  muddy  stream,  his 
U.  S.  plate  was  struck  by  a  bullet,  which  doubled  him  up,  taking 
away  his  breath.  After  lying  in  the  mud  awhile,  his  breath 
came  again,  and  he  scrambled  out  on  the  other  side.  He  after 
wards  took  pride  in  showing  the  black  and  blue  spot  and  the 
battered  plate,  which  became  his  life  preserver. 

One  Rebel  captain  surrendered  to  Capt.  Biddulph,  of  Com 
pany  K,  but  very  reluctantly  gave  up  his  sword,  and  tried  to 
enter  into  a  stipulation  that  it  should  be  restored  to  him  on  his 
being  exchanged ;  giving  as  the  reason,  that  he  would  not  like 
to  lose  it,  as  it  was  a  present  from  his  Southern  sweetheart.  It 
is  very  much  to  be  feared  that  neither  he  or  she  ever  saw  that 
sword  again.  Sergt.  Hogue,  of  the  same  Company,  brought  two 
stalwart  Georgians  in  prisoners,  who  had  called  on  him  to  sur 
render.  Other  companies  also  had  strange  occurrences  ;  making 
both  our  losses  and  our  gains  that  day  something  to  be  long 
remembered. 

Jacob  Moss  only  lived  till  night.  He  was  a  good  soldier  of 
Jesus  Christ,  as  well  as  of  his  country,  and  in  his  last  hours  spoke 
triumphantly  of  his  hopes  of  heaven  and  exhorted  his  comrades 
to  meet  him  there — making  a  profound  impression. 

The  casualties  of  the  day  were  : 

KILLED. 

H.  Ribby,  Co.  B;  Sam.  Saltmarsh,  Co.  G. 

WOUNDED. 

Co.  A,  Azotus  White,  thigh ;  Romaine  Kilburn,  thigh.  Co.  B,  H.  B. 
Latham,  hand.  Co.  C,  W.  H.  Smith,  shoulder;  Jacob  Moss,  body. 
Co.  D,  Sergt.  J.  C.  Taylor,  shoulder;  Alfred  Gaylord,  thigh,  died; 
Thor.  Thorson,  thigh;  Chas.  H.  Bissell,  back.  Co.  E,  Geo.  McHugh,  leg. 
Co.  F,  M.  V.  Tremain,  chin  and  body.  Co.  H,  John  Nemire,  leg.  Co. 
I,  Mich.  Kirtiser.  Co.  K,  S.  Parsons,  wrist;  C.  A.  Tucker,  arm. 

MISSING. 

Charles  Travis,  Co.  B;  J.  M.  Leach,  Co.  D;  James  Hatch,  Co.  E:  B. 
Streeter,  Warren  Folk,  Co.  G ;  Wilson  Lawson,  Co.  II ;  Mich.  Clig- 
gitt,  Co.  I. 


608  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  next  day  the  regiment  was  in  reserve  and  put  up  tents. 
But  picket  firing  was  very  heavy,  and  in  the  afternoon  forty 
pieces  of  artillery  opened,  with  marked  effect.  All  through  the 
day,  and  for  several  days  that  week,  discharges  of  artillery  were 
almost  invariably  followed  by  heavy  showers.  Just  before  night, 
the  Rebel  artillery  answered,  and  some  shells  came  over  the  regi 
ment,  but  at  dusk  we  were  relieved  by  the  14th  Corps,  and  went 
back  two  miles  on  to  a  rocky  ledge  to  sleep.  Next  morning,  and 
all  through  the  week,  our  troops  were  moving  to  the  right,  to 
outflank  Kenesaw.  On  Tuesday  afternoon  our  division  took 
possession  of  an  advanced  knoll,  adjoining  Hooker,  which  received 
special  commendation  from  Gen.  Thomas.  On  Wednesday  we 
made  demonstrations  to  help  Gen.  Hooker,  who  was  heavily 
attacked  by  massed  forces,  but  drove  them  back,  with  slaughter. 
These  operations  on  the  right  continued  with  slight  variations  all 
the  week.  On  the  22nd,  W.  L.  Campbell,  Company  B,  was 
wounded  and  on  the  23rd,  Adelbert  Shaw,  Company  A,  and  J. 
C.  Ford,  Company  H. 

It  was  now  decided  to  break  through  the  enemy's  line  at  a 
favorable  point  in  McPherson's  and  Thomas'  fronts.  Davis'  and 
Newton's  Divisions  were  selected  for  the  assaulting  column. 
Every  preparation  was  quietly  made  to  render  the  assault  itself  suc 
cessful,  and  to  insure  its  vigorous  support  and  following  up  ;  as, 
successful  with  such  a  river  as  the  Chattahoochee  in  Johnston's 
rear,  it  would  insure  the  destruction  of  his  army.  A  hill  in  the 
rear  of  Thomas'  centre  was  cleared,  and  to  it  all  the  telegraph 
lines  were  laid.  Troops  were  brought  up,  and  corps  to  the  right 
and  left  were  held  ready  for  instant  support.  All  day  Sunday,  the 
26th,  things  were  very  quiet;  a  few  dropping  shots  being  all  that 
broke  the  stillness  of  the  day.  But  it  was  whispered  about  that 
there  would  be  hot  work  to-morrow.  The  hospitals  were  cleared 
out  and  accommodations  extended. 


COL.    MILLER    WOUNDED.  609 

Next  morning  the  troops  were  massed  for  a  charge,  the  36th 
being  in  the  skirmish  line.  For  about  fifteen  minutes  all  the 
guns  within  reach  concentrated  their  fire  on  the  point  of  attack, 
and  precisely  at  nine  o'clock  the  column  moved  forward.  The 
skirmish  line  rushed  on  and  succeeded  in  effecting  a  lodgment 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  Rebel  works,  where  they  sheltered  them 
selves  and  looked  for  the  main  column  to  follow.  But  they  were 
not  able  to  break  through  the  terrible  fire,  and  after  our  men  had 
remained  about  half  an  hour  in  this  position,  they  were  ordered 
to  retire.  By  about  eleven  o'clock,  the  attack  here,  as  also  with 
McPherson  and  Schofield,  was  over,  and  except  some  small  gains 
in  position,  was  substantially  a  failure.  The  loss  was  terrible — 
over  fifteen  hundred  killed,  wounded  arid  missing  in  our  corps, 
including  some  of  our  best  officers  and  men.  It  was  a  sad  day 
for  the  36th.  Very  soon  after  the  assault  commenced,  the  ambu 
lances  began  to  pour  their  streams  into  the  hospitals.  Among 
the  first  to  arrive,  was  our  honored  Colonel,  wounded  through 
the  right  shoulder  and  shoulder-blade. 

One  after  another  was  brought  in,  until  every  company  was 
represented,  and  the  36th,  which  had  already  suffered  so  much, 
seemed  now  fast  melting  away.  One  case  deserves  special  atten 
tion.  Hatch,  of  Company  E,  the  youngest  and  the  tallest  of 
the  one  hundred  who  first  joined  the  company,  had  a  brother 
Henry,  only  fifteen  years  old,  who  was  extremely  anxious  to  go 
with  the  30th.  At  Camp  Hammond,  the  flag  in  some  way  became 
entangled,  and  he  climbed  the  pole  in  sight  of  all,  freeing  the 
flag,  and  the  boys  made  up  a  collection  for  him.  After  the  36th 
left,  he  ran  away  and  enlisted  in  the 57th  Illinois;  was  at  Shiloh 
and  most  of  the  battles  up  to  Resaca,  when  he  became  footsore, 
and  dropping  back,  fell  in  with  the  127th,  in  which  he  was 
acquainted  ;  fought  with  them,  and  when  near  Dallas,  passing 


610  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

near  the  36th,  he  joined  his  old  friends  once  more,  remained  with 
them  until  the  charge  at  Kenesaw,  in  which  he  was  mortally 
wounded,  dying  the  same  day.  Both  the  Colonel  and  his  cap 
tain  promised  to  have  him  transferred  to  the  36th,  but  his  death, 
and  also  the  Colonel's,  so  soon  after  his  coming,  prevented  it. 
He  is  reported  on  his  own  company  roll  as  a  deserter.  Although 
his  being  with  the  36th  was  an  irregularity,  yet  his  devotion 
to  his  country,  as  shown  in  his  fidelity  in  many  battles,  is  worthy 
of  all  honor,  and  it  is  but  just  that  he  should  find  honorable 
mention  in  our  history. 

Later  in  the  day,  a  truce  was  agreed  upon  in  our  part  of  the 
lines ;  giving  opportunity  for  both  sides  to  recover  their  dead 
and  wounded,  and  also  to  extinguish  a  fire  which  had  broken  out 
—the  boys  mingling  freely.  But  next  day,  to  prepare  for  further 
movements,  the  wounded  were  ordered  to  be  removed  at  once, 
and  soon  a  long  ambulance  train  started  for  Big  Shanty.  At 
the  general  desire  of  the  regiment,  the  Chaplain  went  to  take 
charge  of  Col.  Miller,  attending  to  him  while  waiting  at  the 
depot ;  transferring  him  the  day  after  to  the  hospital  train,  and 
caring  for  him  day  and  night  until  they  reached  Chattanooga. 
There  were  strong  hopes  that  with  proper  attention,  his  vigorous 
and  youthful  constitution  might  enable  him  to  recover  and  live 
a  long  life.  At  Chattanooga  he  was  taken  in  charge  by  the  San 
itary  Committee,  as  the  Chaplain  could  not  secure  permission  to 
go  further.  His  wound  seemed  to  be  doing  well,  and  he  felt 
quite  comfortable  and  hopeful.  But  the  subsequent  delay  in  the 
train  arriving  at  Nashville,  and  the  heat  of  the  weather,  brought 
him  into  the  city  much  reduced;  with  his  symptoms  much  less 
hopeful,  and  as  we  heard  from  time  to  time,  we  began  to  fear 
that  we  should  never  see  his  face  again. 


CASUALTIES   AT    KENESAW.  611 

CASUALTIES  JUNE  2TTH. 

KILLED. 

J.  W.  Hinsdale,  Company  D;  Seneca  Burdsall,  Company  K. 

WOUNDED. 

Col.  Silas  Miller,  right  arm  and  shoulder;  Sergt.  Maj.  L.  P.  Ticknor, 
slight. 

COMPANY    A. 

Henry  Howe,  hand;  L.  W.  Mann,  leg;  M.  Seisloff,  arm;  M.  S.  Town- 
send,  side. 

COMPANY  B. 

Geo.  Berger,   thigh;  K.  Logan,    mouth;  Geo.   H.  Burns,  leg;  Elihu 
May  hew,  slight. 

COMPANY  c. 

Geo.  Mercer,  jaw;  J.  Snodgrass,  leg;  Harlan  E.  King,  thigh;  James 
Wilson,  arm. 

COMPANY    D. 

Wm.  Duckworth,  thigh;  Jos.  Whitham,  abdomen;  L.  K.  Bannister, 
body,  died  same  day;  Lieut.  I.  N.  Beebe,  slight. 

COMPANY   E. 

Daniel  Darnell,  hand;  Lieut.  Hemingway,  slight;  E.  S.  Case,  slight. 

COMPANY  F. 

Geo.  Neff,  thigh ;  J.  M.  Johnson,  foot ;  Oscar  P.  Hobbs,  finger ;  Edwin 
Dopp,  thigh  ;  Capt.  Geo.  Mossman,  arm. 

COMPANY    G. 

Chas.  Landon,  hip;  Wm.  Carnes,  shoulder;  D.  Kennedy,  M.  G.  Yar- 
nell,  slight. 

COMPANY    II. 

Thos.  Finlayson,  slight. 

COMPANY    I. 

Dwight  Cowan,  bruise. 

COMPANY    K. 

J.  C.  Hogue,  thigh;  H.  J.  Sipe,  body — died  same  day;  J.  H.  Hogue, 
hand;  Wm.  C.  Hall,  wrist;  II.  Bogardis,  Patrick  O'Connor,  slight. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII 


ATLANTA. 


FTER  the  failure  in  the  assault  of  the  27th  of  June, 
there  was  nothing  left  but  to  resume  the  flanking 
process,  which  was   done  by  a  further  extension  of 
our  right,  threatening  Johnston's  rear,  and  on  Sun 
day  morning,  July  3rd,  his  works  were   evacuated 
and  our  men  occupied  them.      Our  corps  inarched 
directly  through  Marietta,  which  was  said  to  be  a  beautiful  and 
attractive  place,  with  many  public  buildings  and  improvements. 
Heavy  cannonading  and  skirmishing  continued  for  several  days, 
as  Johnston  was  retreating  across  the  river,  and  many  prisoners 
were  taken.     Our  division,  being  in  the  rear,  was  not  called  upon 
to  participate.     They  went  into  camp  on  the  Chattahoochee,  not 
far  from  Virginia  Station,  on  the  5th,  and  from  a  hill  near  by 
could  see  Atlanta— the  goal  of  all   our  fighting  and  marching. 
Next  day  they  made  a  camp  one  and  a-half  miles  up  the  river, 
near  a  saw  mill,  the  dam  of  which  proved  a  fine  place  for  bath 
ing  and  washing.      On  the  9th,  the  division  marched,  leaving 
the  camp  standing,  for  Roswell,  twenty  miles  up  the  river,  where 
our  cavalry   had  already  secured  a  crossing.     The  heat  was  so 
overpowering  that  a  number  were  sun-struck  and  many  fell  out. 


THE   ADVANCE   ON   ATLANTA.  613 

After  dark  they  crossed  the  river,  relieving  the  cavalry,  and 
next  day  built  works  to  hold  the  position.  On  the  llth  they 
were  relieved  by  the  16th  Corps,  for  whom  the  crossing  had  been 
secured,  and  coming  down  the  river  two  miles,  guarded  a  bridge, 
returning  to  camp  at  Power's  Ferry  on  the  12th.  Next  day 
we  crossed  the  river  on  canvas  pontoons,  went  about  two  miles 
on  the  other  side  and  built  breastworks.  With  the  exception  of 
one  day's  fatigue  duty,  building  a  trestle  bridge,  there  was  noth 
ing  of  note,  except  the  picking  and  eating  of  blackberries,  until 
Sunday,  when  our  regiment  and  the  74th  went  out  on  a  recon- 
noissance  until  they  connected  with  the  23rd  Corps.  This  day  we 
had  two  religious  services  in  the  regiment  and  one  at  the  hospital. 

On  Monday,  the  18th,  the  whole  army  commenced  the 
advance  on  Atlanta.  We  now  learned  that  the  day  before,  John 
ston  had  been  relieved  of  his  command,  and  Hood  had  been 
appointed,  with  the  express  understanding  that  he  should  strike 
a  "  manly  blow  for  Atlanta."  We  began  to  look  for  stirring 
times,  and  Sherman  gave  special  orders  to  his  army  commanders 
to  be  ready  always  for  battle.  We  had  some  brisk  skirmishing 
as  we  advanced,  but  our  artillery  did  good  service — sending  a 
cannon  ball  clear  through  a  tree  under  which  the  enemy's  bat 
tery  had  been  standing.  We  camped  at  Buckhead,  remaining 
there  until  next  night  about  six  o'clock,  when  Wood's  Division 
having  built  a  bridge  and  effected  a  crossing  of  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  we  went  forward,  and  about  ten  o'clock  laid  down  on 
the  south  side  of  the  creek. 

Johnston,  in  relinquishing  his  command,  had  given  to  Hood 
two  plans  which  he  had  for  attacking  us,  and  which  Hood  at 
once  adopted.  One  was  to  assault  us  after  crossing  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  by  which  we  might  be  thrown  into  confusion,  with  the 
Chattahoochee  in  our  rear.  The  other  was  to  occupy  the  works 


614  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

of  Atlanta  by  State  troops,  and  sally  out  with  the  army  against 
the  most  exposed  of  our  wings  as  we  closed  in  about  the  city. 

Hood's  tactics  for  the  Peach  Tree  Creek  attack  were  very 
shrewd.  Our  division,  after  waiting  for  Hooker  to  connect  on 
the  right,  advanced  against  stout  opposition  until  they  reached 
an  open  field,  over  which  they  charged,  driving  the  enemy  out 
of  the  rifle  pits,  and  immediately  proceeded,  though  without 
special  orders,  to  throw  up  barricades,  the  left  resting  on  the 
Buckhead  road.  On  sending  forward  skirmishers,  they  found 
nothing  in  front,  and  deserters  declared  that  there  was  no  enemy 
for  two  miles.  One  division  of  Hooker's  had  not  come  forward, 
so  that  there  was  an  opening  in  the  line  on  our  right — presenting  a 
strong  temptation  to  the  enemy  to  flank  us,  but  opposite  to  it, 
only  retired  and  out  of  sight,  lay  Ward's  Division,  ready  to 
advance.  At  three  o'clock,  when  the  barricades  were  scarcely 
completed,  the  enemy,  without  skirmishers  and  without  warning, 
broke  upon  us  in  masses.  A  division  first  attacked  the  left  flank  ; 
another  came  up  in  front,  and  a  "third  advanced  to  the  open  space 
on  our  right,  with  the  evident  determination  to  break  through  and 
cut  us  off  from  retreat.  While  the  two  brigades  in  the  front 
line,  sheltered  by  their  works,  were  taking  care  of  the  front, 
Bradley's  Brigade  was  thrown  to  the  left — protecting  that  flank, 
and  some  troops  were  sent  to  help  the  right,  until  Ward's  Divi 
sion  at  last  coming  in  made  that  flank  perfectly  safe.  The  attack 
was  successfully  repelled.  But  by  and  by  it  was  renewed  with 
the  utmost  impetuosity  ;  again  commencing  on  the  left  of  our 
division  and  working  to  the  right ;  but  Geri.  Thomas,  being  there 
in  person,  sent  for  Ward's  Artillery,  directed  its  posting  and 
firing  himself,  until  about  six  o'clock,  when  Hood  drew  off  his 
forces,  thoroughly  worsted.  He  had  certainly  struck  a  "  manly 
blow  "  for  Atlanta,  but  it  was  a  blow  which  did  him  many  times 


A    FAIR    FRONT    FIGHT.  615 

more  harm  than  us.  This  was  the  first  time  that  the  36th  had 
been  permitted  to  do  justice  to  the  masses  of  the  enemy  in  front, 
while  at  the  same  time,  both  their  flanks  were  protected,  and  the 
opportunity  was  improved  to  the  utmost.  Three  hundred  rebels 
were  buried  from  the  front  of  our  division,  alone.  We  had  but 
one  man  wounded,  and  that  not  severely,  Sergt.  Wormley,  Com 
pany  I.  When  all  was  over,  it  seemed  more  like  a  dream  than  a 
reality,  and  made  not  a  few  declare  that  our  success  was  due  to 
the  good  providence  of  God  watching  over  and  protecting  us. 

During  the  fight,  Scales,  Company  K,  had  a  Spencer  rifle, 
and  finding  a  sheltered  nook  in  advance  of  our  line,  took  pos 
session  and  went  to  work  with  a  will.  Soon  a  squad  of  Rebels 
came  up  and  desired  to  surrender  to  him.  "  Go  to  the  rear," 
replied  Scales,  "  and  get  out  of  my  way.  I  have  no  time  to 
take  prisoners."  So  excited  did  the  men  become,  that  they  con 
tinued  to  fire  long  after  the  last  gray  coat  had  disappeared. 

On  the  21st,  we  remained  in  position  behind  the  works,  many 
of  the  men  taking  the  opportunity  to  look  over  the  field  and  see 
the  piles  of  dead  bodies  left  by  the  enemy.  On  the  22nd,  they 
having  disappeared,  we  resumed  our  march — slowly  approaching 
Atlanta.  After  going  a  little  over  a  mile,  as  we  came  in  line  with 
one  of  the  principal  works,  the  guns  opened  on  us  with  shell, 
which  fell  lively  all  through  the  middle  of  the  day ;  our  skir 
mishers  in  the  meantime  advancing  as  close  as  possible.  While 
this  was  going  on,  Hood  had  massed  his  troops  on  his  extreme 
right,  to  carry  out  the  second  part  of  Johnston's  plan,  by  attack 
ing  McPherson.  This  was  done  with  great  vigor,  and  at  first 
with  bad  effect  upon  us,  especially  in  the  loss  of  McPherson 
himself;  but  as  the  day  wore  on  and  our  forces  could  be  rallied, 
the  defeat  of  the  enemy  was  complete,  with  a  fearful  loss  to  him 
of  not  far  from  ten  thousand ;  over  three  thousand  of  his  dead 
were  buried. 


616  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

In  securing  our  line  near  Atlanta,  that  day,  we  had  one  man, 
Thomas  Pollock,  wounded  in  the  wrist.  The  next  day,  before 
the  regiment  was  relieved  from  picket,  we  had  one  man,  Charles 
Hinzee,  Company  B,  killed;  Benj.  Allen,  Company  II,  wounded 
and  missing,  and  James  M.  Smith  missing. 

After  a  few  days,  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  marched  past, 
on  their  way  to  the  extreme  right ;  Gen.  Howard,  our  Corps 
Commander,  being  assigned  to  McPherson's  place.  This  gave 
us  Stanley  for  the  4th  Corps,  and  some  other  changes  were  made. 
The  lines  were  advanced  a  little  almost  every  day,  sometimes  with 
most  bloody  battles.  Hood  made  an  attack  on  Howard  as  he 
went  into  his  new  position,  but  was  repulsed  with  terrible  slaugh 
ter.  Indeed,  a  few  more  "  manly  blows''  would  have  left  Hood 
but  a  fragment  of  Johnston's  force.  By  and  by  Schofield  was 
brought  over  to  the  right  flank,  and  we  were  ordered  to  take  his 
position  on  the  extreme  left — on  the  very  ground  fought  over  on 
the  22nd.  Here  we  were  within  sight  of  the  city,  and  skirmish 
ers  reached  almost  to  the  suburbs. 

On  the  day  that  we  made  this  change,  we  received  definite 
information  that  Col.  Miller  was  dead.  We  had  heard  such  dis 
couraging  reports  for  some  time,  that  we  were  somewhat  pre 
pared  for  the  final  result ;  but  the  whole  regiment  was  filled  with 
unaffected  sorrow.  The  warm  weather  had  been  exceedingly 
unfavorable  for  wounded  men,  and  gangrene  in  its  most  persistent 
form  set  in,  and  though  he  had  the  most  assiduous  attention 
from  his  friends  and  physicians,  he  expired  July  27th,  just  one 
month  from  the  day  on  which  he  was  wounded.  Although  but 
twenty-two  years  of  age  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  he  sprang 
to  arms  at  the  first  call  for  troops ;  entered  the  service  as  a  pri 
vate  in  Company  C,  7th  Illinois,  and  was  among  the  first  to 
arrive  at  Cairo.  He  was  chosen  2nd  lieutenant,  but  became  1st 


SKETCH    OF    COL.    MILLER.  617 

Lieutenant  before  the  three  months  expired.  He  aided  much  in 
raising  the  Fox  River  Regiment,  and  became  Captain  of  Company 
B  ;  was  commissioned  Major  in  November,  1862.  arid  Colonel  in 
March,  1863.  He  was  with  the  regiment  in  all  its  expeditions ; 
was  present  at  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Perryville,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Resaca,  Adairsville,  Dallas  and 
Kenesaw,  and  except  at  Pea  Ridge,  and  a  portion  of  the  time  at 
Stone  River  and  Mission  Ridge — when  he  led  a  part  of  the  bri 
gade — was  in  command  of  the  regiment,  which  always  gladly  fol 
lowed  his  lead.  From  the  first,  he  gave  himself  to  a  careful  study 
of  military  tactics,  and  was  specially  skillful  in  the  command  of 
skirmishers.  His  ability  in  this  direction,  and  his  gallantry  in 
battle,  frequently  called  out  the  special  commendation  of  his 
superior  officers.  At  Stone  River  he  was  wounded  and  captured, 
remaining  nearly  five  months  in  prison.  A  day  or  two  spent  at 
home,  on  his  way  to  rejoin  his  regiment,  constituted  the  only 
respite  he  had  while  in  the  service.  His  patriotism  was  singu 
larly  pure  and  unselfish.  Personal  ambition  and  love  of  fame 
were  lost  in  the  higher  principles  of  duty.  On  the  19th  of  June, 
being  on  the  skirmish  line  and  unsupported,  he  ordered  the  men 
who  were  taking  the  prisoners  to  the  rear,  to  deliver  them  to  the 
first  staff  officer  they  could  find,  and  immediately  return.  They 
were  delivered  to  Baird's  Division,  14th  Corps,  whose  right  he 
joined.  A  general  to  whom  the  circumstance  was  mentioned, 
remonstrated  with  him,  saying,  "  Baird's  Division  will  get  all  the 
glory."  "  Glory,  General,"  said  our  gallant  Colonel,  u  is  a  mighty 
cheap  thing  with  me,  when  I  need  men."  His  heart  was  with  his 
regiment  to  the  last.  He  was  often  moved  to  tears  while  speak 
ing  of  the  bravery  of  his  men,  and.  the  sufferings  they  endured 
so  nobly,  especially  at  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga.  When 

brought  in  wounded  and  laid  upon  the  operating  table  for  surgi- 
40 


618  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

cal  examination,  his  first  inquiry  was  after  his  men.  Upon 
the  Chaplain  mentioning  the  number  brought  in,  together  with  a 
few  of  their  names,  he  gave  way  to  his  feelings,  and  as  the  tears 
rolled  down  his  cheeks,  he  said :  "I  have  seen  hundreds  of  those 
poor  boys  struck  down,  and  I  think  it  is  my  turn  now."  Dur 
ing  his  sickness,  referring  to  this  occasion,  he  said  to  his  brother, 
"  I  suppose  those  surgeons  thought  me  such  a  baby,  that  I  cried 
from  the  pain  of  the  operation.  But,"  said  he,  "  I  didn't  care 
for  that.  I  was  thinking  of  the  old  36th.  I  thought  of  her  as 
she  was  when  we  left  home — over  a  thousand  strong.  I  thought 
of  her  now,  with  scarcely  enough  men  for  a  full  company.  I 
thought  of  the  trials  and  privations  which  those  dear  boys  had 
endured  and  must  still  endure,  and  it  seemed  to  me  they  were 
doomed  to  annihilation.  It  was  for  them  I  cried."  Their  inter 
ests  were  constantly  in  his  mind,  and  when  delirious,  he  imagined 
himself  at  their  head  and  leading  them  in  battle.  Few  men  of 
his  years  have  had  entrusted  them  to  such  weighty  responsibilities  ; 
few  men  of  twice  his  years  have  borne  such  responsibilities  so 
nobly  and  so  well.  Among  the  many  heroic  spirits  sacrificed  for 
the  salvation  of  our  country,  a  front  place  in  the  ranks  must  be 
given  to  Col.  Silas  Miller. 

As  soon  as  the  regiment  was  settled  in  its  new  position,  a  meet 
ing  of  the  officers  was  held,  at  which  it  was  decided  to  send  a  let 
ter  of  condolence  to  the  bereaved  family,  and  ask  permission  to 
erect  a  regimental  monument  over  his  grave,  for  which  a  sub 
scription  was  at  once  commenced.  In  a  few  days  a  meeting 
of  the  regiment  was  held,  at  which  the  letter,  prepared  by  the 
Chaplain,  was  read,  and  the  plan  proposed  was  explained.  A 
most  liberal  response  was  at  once  given.  Over  $800  were  sub 
scribed  in  two  days,  and  the  amount  was  subsequently  swelled  to 
about  $1,100.  Mr.  W.  H.  Miller,  in  behalf  of  the  family,  soon 


SIEGE    OF   ATLANTA.  619 

replied,  in  a  most  touching  and  appropriate  letter,  accepting  the 
offer  of  the  regiment,  and  proposing  to  add  the  contributions  of 
the  different  members  of  the  family.  Lieut.  Col.  Olson,  Maj. 
Sherman  and  Chaplain  Haigh  were  appointed  the  Regimental 
Committee,  and  the  beautiful  monument  in  Spring  Lake  Ceme 
tery,  Aurora,  attests  the  affection  which  was  borne  for  the  gallant 
young  man  by  his  family  and  regiment. 

During  the  three  weeks  we  remained  on  the  left,  Sherman  was 
engaged  in  extending  his  right  further  and  further  to  the  south, 
and  sending  out  cavalry  expeditions  to  cut  the  roads.  In  the 
meantime,  the  troops  in  front  made  various  demonstrations. 
Sometimes  the  lines  were  tolerably  quiet ;  sometimes  the  roar  of 
artillery  continued  day  and  night,  with  the  most  terrible  effect 
on  the  buildings  of  the  city.  On  the  12th  of  August,  a  recon- 
noissance  was  made  in  our  front,  in  which  one  man,  Peter 
Little,  Company  A,  was  wounded.  On  the  13th,  just  at  night, 
a  heavy  shelling  of  our  position  commenced,  the  shells  going 
through  some  of  our  quarters  and  exploding  all  around  ;  'but  as 
the  rifle  pits  were  deep  and  well  made,  no  one  was  hurt.  On 
Wednesday,  the  17th,  a  demonstration  was  made  by  marching 
around  for  about  five  miles,  to  draw  off  attention  from  something 
else.  But  Sherman  at  last  decided  to  raise  the  siege  and  move 
upon  the  communications.  An  order  to  this  effect  fixed  the  18th 
as  the  day.  This  was  afterward  changed  to  the  25th. 

Before  this  move  was  made,  Gen.  Kimball  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  1st  Division,  and  Col.  Opdyke,  a  brave  and  gallant 
officer,  was  assigned  to  our  brigade.  His  regiment,  the  125th 
Ohio,  came  with  him.  On  the  24th,  Lieut.  Col.  Olson,  who  had 
been  absent  through  sickness  since  June,  returned  and  resumed 
command.  Since  the  charge  on  the  Kenesaw.  the  regiment  had 


620  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

been  well  led  by   Captain  J.  B.  McNeal,  Company  C,  who  now 
became  acting  Major. 

Everything  being  carefully  prepared  before  hand,  as  soon  as 
it  was  dusk  on  Thursday,  August  25th,  we  broke  up  camp  and 
marched  in  silence  to  the  rear  of  the  20th  Corps,  covering  their 
retreat  to  the  river,  and  then  about  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  we  marched 
beyond  the  railroad  and  lay  down  until  daylight.  The  cavalry 
dismounted  had  taken  our  place  in  the  works,  so  that  the  enemy 
did  not  suspect  our  absence.  One  man,  Michael  Manning,  of 
Company  I,  fell  out  that  night  and  was  captured.  In  the  morn 
ing  we  had  to  build  breastworks  hastily,  and  a  few  shells  were 
thrown  at  us  from  the  works.  The  march  was  soon  resumed, 
and  proved  to  be  very  exhausting  as  the  heat  was  most  intense. 
One  man  in  the  88th  sank  down  by  the  road  side  and  died  in  a 
few  minutes.  A  heavy  rain  came  up,  flooding  the  roads,  and  we 
went  into  camp  near  Utoy  Creek,  having  marched  eighteen  miles 
since  the  previous  night.  Next  day  we  were  rear  guard  to  the  train, 
and  did  not  march  until  two  o'clock.  It  was  long  after  dark  when 
we  made  camp  in  thick  woods,  and  immediately  threw  up  breast 
works.  On  Sunday  we  lay  still  until  two  o'clock,  the  14th  Corps 
marching  past  us,  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  swinging  further 
to  our  right,  and  Schofield  alone  remaining  in  his  original  posi 
tion.  While  waiting,  we  had  service  by  the  roadside,  and 
did  not  reach  camp  until  long  after  dark,  and  then  could 
only  make  line  in  the  thick  woods  by  lighting  candles. 
We  were  now  near  Red  Oak,  where  we  remained  until  Tuesday, 
other  troops  in  the  meantime  spending  the  day  in  destroying  the 
Montgomery  railroad.  On  the  30th,  we  moved  forward,  skir 
mishing  heavily,  the  3(>th  in  reserve,  and  next  day  connected 
with  the  23rd  Corps  below  Rough  and  Ready.  On  Thursday, 
September  1st,  we  started  down  the  railroad,  burning  the  ties 


EVACUATION  OF  ATLANTA.  621 

and  twisting  the  rails  as  we  proceeded.  It  was  a  memorable  sight 
to  see  the  men  lift  a  long  section  of  the  road,  turning  over  the 
ties,  wrenching  them  from  the  rails,  piling  them  in  blocks,  on 
which  the  rails  were  laid,  and  then  as  they  burned,  the  ends  of 
the  rails  fell  down,  rendering  them  useless. 

In  the  meantime  the  enemy  was  concentrating  on  Ilardee's 
Corps  at  Jonesboro,  and  orders  came  for  us  to  hurry  up. 
Howard  had  made  a  successful  attack  on  the  west,  Davis  on  the 
north,  and  it  needed  but  our  corps  and  the  23rd  to  come  in  on 
the  east  to  cut  off  retreat.  We  hastened  forward,  marching  par 
allel  with  the  23rd  Corps,  deployed  on  the  east  of  the  enemy's 
works,  and  moved  to  the  attack  ;  but  night  set  in,  and  in  the  dark 
woods  we  could  not  tell  friend  from  foe.  Another  half  hour  of 
daylight  and  Hardee  could  not  have  escaped ;  as  it  was,  we  cap 
tured  in  all  about  two  thousand  men.  Hardee  drew  out  and 
joined  the  rest  of  Hood's  army  at  Lovejoy. 

During  the  night  we  were  roused  by  the  sound  of  heavy  explo 
sions  in  the  direction  of  Atlanta,  indicating  evacuation,  and  soon 
the  news  arrived  that  Slocum  had  marched  into  the  city.  Next 
day  we  moved  forward  on  Lovejoy,  where  severe  fighting  took 
place  toward  evening,  resulting  in  mortally  wounding  Capt. 
McNeal,  of  Company  C,  acting  Major;  Abm.  Long,  of  Company 
K,  killed ;  Fred.  Smith,  of  Company  II,  and  Jos.  Hebert,  of 
Company  Gr,  wounded.  Capt.  McNeal  was  a  tried  and  true 
soldier,  one  whom  the  men  could  "tie  to"  at  all  times,  and  his 
death  was  deeply  and  sincerely  mourned. 

Sherman  had  determined  to  go  no  further  south  at  present ; 
he  therefore  issued  orders  for  the  army  to  return  to  Atlanta  for 
rest.  On  Monday  night  at  eight  o'clock  we  drew  out  and 
marched  back  to  Jonesboro,  which  we  found  as  light  as  day  with 
burning  cotton.  Next  day  we  resumed  our  march,  entering 


622  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Atlanta  on  Thursday,  8th,  our  band  playing  national  airs  and 
the  sidewalks  lined  with  spectators.  The  evidences  of  destruc 
tion  within  the  city  were  almost  indescribable,  particularly  where 
they  had  exploded  their  ammunition  supplies.  We  went  into 
camp  near  the  Augusta  road.  This  was  a  great  day  for  our 
army  and  for  all  loyal  people.  Sometimes  it  had  seemed  as 
though  our  task  would  never  be  done,  but  we  found  compensa 
tion  in  the  fact  that  the  copperhead  platform  in  the  North  had 
been  built  on  the  assurance  that  Atlanta  could  not  be  taken ; 
and  now  that  it  was  taken  the  platform  must  fall  with  all  who 
stood  upon  it — an  expectation  which  was  fully  realized. 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

ATLANTA  TO  COLUMBIA. 

CR  RELIEF  was  great  \vhen  we  could  go  into 
camp  again,  and  have  a  general  clean  up. 
The  wagons  came  in,  bringing  the  regimental 
baggage  and  our  library,  and  we  settled  down 
for  a  luxurious  rest.  Unoccupied  houses  were 
unceremoniously  dismantled,  and  excellent 
quarters  were  built  of  the  materials.  After  surveying  the  city 
which  had  cost  us  so  much,  the  boys  concluded  it  was  not  much 
of  a  town  after  all.  Most  of  the  houses  had  holes  dug  in  the 
ground,  into  which  the  people  had  retired  during  our  firing,  and 
some  of  the  loyal  inhabitants  could  show  us  their  furniture 
smashed  by  our  cannon  balls.  Ordinary  camp  duty  was  resumed. 
The  officers  were  busy  with  their  company  books,  which  had  been 
so  long  neglected,  and  the  non-veterans  whose  time  would  expire 
in  a  few  days,  began  to  report  from  all  directions,  swelling  our 
numbers  a  good  deal.  Regular  religious  services  were  held  on  the 
Sabbath  and  also  during  the  week,  and  some  of  the  brigades  began 
to  build  beautiful  chapels. 

On  the  23rd  of  September,  the  anniversary  of  the  muster  in 
of  the  regiment,  one  hundred  and   twenty-seven   men   arid   one 


624  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

officer  whose  three  years  had  expired,  were  mustered  out  and  took 
leave  of  their  comrades.  Being  drawn  up  in  line,  they  were 
addressed  in  a  speech  by  Lieut.  Col.  Olson,  reviewing  their  con 
nection  with  the  regiment,  honoring  their  fidelity,  and  exhorting 
them  to  be  true  to  the  country  as  citizens  at  home,  while  their 
comrades  continued  to  bear  the  hardships  of  camp  and  field. 
This  was  followed  by  an  address  from  the  Chaplain,  and  then  the 
non-veterans  responded  with  hearty  cheers  for  their  officers  and 
veteran  comrades  whom  they  were  to  leave  behind.  A  general 
handshaking  followed,  which  brought  tears  to  many  eyes  not  used 
to  weeping.  One  writes  in  his  journal:  "It  was  like  leaving 
home  to  part  with  them,  and  I  could  not  keep  back  the  tears 
which  persisted  in  flowing." 

At  this  completion  of  the  three  years  service,  the  losses  in  the 
regiment  had  been  as  follows :  Killed  in  battle,  97 ;  died  of 
disease,  52 ;  died  of  wounds,  74 ;  discharged  on  account  of 
wounds,  56 ;  discharged  on  account  of  disease,  110 ;  deserted,  28 ; 
transferred,  44 ;  wounded  in  battle,  486  ;  officers  resigned,  31  ; 
mustered  out  in  disgrace,  2  ;  enlisted  men  promoted  to  commis 
sions,  47. 

So  many  of  the  old  regiments  were  undergoing  a  similar  deple 
tion  that  arrangements  began  to  be  made  for  consolidation,  and  a 
good  deal  of  interest  was  felt  at  this  time  in  a  proposed  union  of 
the  36th,  42nd  and  51st  Illinois.  But  this  arrangement  shared 
the  same  fate  as  a  plan  to  erect  a  Brigade  Chapel.  The  chap 
lains  had  secured  all  things  necessary,  and  volunteers  were  ready 
from  the  different  regiments  to  aid  in  the  work,  when  on  Sunday, 
September  25th,  just  after  morning  service,  orders  came  to  be 
ready  to  take  the  cars,  and  in  two  hours  we  had  eaten  dinner, 
packed  up,  marched  over  two  miles  to  town  and  were  seated  in 
the  cars  ready  to  start  for  Chattanooga. 


MOVEMENTS   OP   GEN.    HOOD.  625 

It  was  Gen.  Hood  who  had  broken  up  our  much  coveted  rest 
and  disturbed  our  plans.  Moving  away  from  Lovejoy,  he  pre: 
pared  to  strike  our  communications ;  Forrest  appearing  at  the 
same  time,  with  over  six  thousand  cavalry,  in  Tennessee.  New 
ton's  Division  was  sent  back  to  Chattanooga  and  Gen.  Corse  to 
Rome,  to  protect  our  main  points  of  supply.  Still  we  expected 
that  our  absence  would  be  only  temporary,  and  we  should  soon 
return  to  the  corps.  After  a  cheerless  all-night's  ride,  we  arrived 
at  Chattanooga,  where  we  were  placed  in  charge  of  Fort  Phelps 
and  afterwards  of  the  Stone  Fort.  Hood's  movements  became 
so  threatening  that  Gen.  Thomas  arrived,  September  29th,  to 
direct  the  defence  of  the  Tennessee  line.  On  the  2nd  of  Octo 
ber,  the  36th  and  44th  Illinois  and  24th  Wisconsin  were  sent  on 
the  cars  to  Dalton,  expecting  to  have  to  fight  their  way  to  the 
Fort ;  but  they  found  nothing  of  importance  and  returned  on  the 
6th.  It  was  at  this  time  that  Hood  was  operating  against  Alla- 
toona,  which  he  failed  to  reduce  ;  losing  one  thousand  men.  As 
the  indications  were  that  he  now  was  working  west,  it  seemed 
unnecessary  to  continue  any  additional  force  at  Dalton.  The 
following  week  he  came  up  to  Resaca,  which  held  out  against 
him,  but  he  sent  a  force  to  Dalton,  which  captured  the  garrison 
there  and  also  at  Tilton.  It  now  became  a  serious  question 
whether  he  intended  to  come  up  the  railroad  or  to  strike  Chatta 
nooga  and  Bridgeport  by  the  valleys  leading  to  them,  and  so 
from  Saturday,  the  15th,  to  Tuesday,  the  18th,  we  were  on  the 
cars,  constituting  a  flying  force,  ready  to  defend  any  one  of  those 
points,  while  troops  from  all  outlying  posts  were  concentrated  at 
Chattanooga.  First  we  went  out  to  the  Junction,  and  then  to 
Ringgold ;  on  Sunday,  the  16th,  we  returned,  and  immediately 
went  forward  to  Shell-mound,  to  look  out  for  any  force  that  might 
appear  there.  After  dark  we  returned  to  Whiteside ;  staying 


626  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

there — still  on  the  cars — all  night,  and  before  daylight  moved  on 
to  Bridgeport,  where  we  remained  all  day  and  next  night. 

By  this  time  it  was  evident  that  Hood  was  not  making  in  this 
direction,  so  we  returned,  arriving  at  Chattanooga  at  noon,  and 
immmediately  were  joined  with  other  troops  under  command  of 
Gen.  Schofield,  to  take  two  droves  of  cattle  through  to  Sherman's 
army  at  Gaylesville,  We  marched  out  to  Gordon's  mills  that 
night,  and  the  next  day  went  by  Craw-fish  Springs  and  our  old 
hospital,  arriving  near  Lafayette,  through  which  we  passed  next 
day,  the  20th.  We  found  this  intensely  Rebel  town  much  dilap 
idated,  the  court  house  being  riddled.  Our  boys  took  great 
delight  in  singing  with  all  their  might,  "John  Brown's  Body." 
Although  Hood's  army  had  been  through  here,  we  found  abund 
ance  of  forage. 

The  next  day  we  marched  first  on  the  Summerville  and  then 
on  the  Alpine  road  about  fourteen  miles,  and  the  day  after  reached 
beyond  Alpine  to  dinner,  when  Morgan's  Division  went  on  to 
Gaylesville  and  we  went  back  and  camped  at  Alpine  on  the  very 
ground  we  occupied  the  year  before.  Although  we  were  on  short 
army  rations,  the  supplies  in  the  country  were  so  abundant  that 
we  lived  well,  and  this  trip  was  of  as  much  service  to  the  men 
as  if  they  had  been  sent  to  the  hospital  and  fed  on  sanitary  goods. 
Here  we  remained  one  week  secluded  from  the  world,  and  won 
dering  what  it  all  meant,  one  man  declaring  that  Sherman  had 
taken  a  contract  to  eat  out  these  valleys.  But  the  fact  was,  Sher 
man  was  now  maturing  his  plans  for  his  "  march  to  the  sea,"  and 
was  only  waiting  to  watch  Hood's  movements  before  starting. 
Hood  by  this  time  had  moved  west,  ?,nd  showed  an  intention  of 
crossing  the  Tennessee  at  Decatur.  On  Friday,  the  28th, 
the  repairs  on  the  railroad  were  completed,  and  we  com 
menced  our  march  back  to  Chattanooga,  the  4th  Corps  having 


SEPARATION   FROM    SHERMAN.  627 

been  assigned  to  Thomas  as  a  part  of  his  army  of  defense,  while 
Sherman  moved  south  prepared  to  strike  out  for  Savannah.  We 
marched  over  the  Chickamauga  battle-field,  which  bore  in  the 
trees  the  traces  of  those  two  terrible  days,  and  arrived  in  Chat 
tanooga  on  Saturday  night,  October  29th. 

That  very  day  Hood  had  commenced  crossing  the  Tennessee 
below  Florence,  and  it  was  necessary  to  hurry  the  4th  Corps  on 
to  the  line  of  the  Nashville  and  Decatur  railroad.  Wood's 
Division  was  the  first  to  arrive.  On  Tuesday,  November  1st,  we 
took  the  cars  at  Chattanooga,  all  horses,  etc.,  except  one  for  the 
commanding  officer,  being  left  behind  to  come  over  the  country. 
Traveling  all  night  by  way  of  Huntsville  and  Decatur,  we  found 
ourselves  next  morning  at  Athens,  and  received  orders  to  march 
forthwith  to  Pulaski,  where  the  corps  was  to  concentrate.  Sixty 
rounds  of  ammunition  per  man  were  distributed,  and  we  moved 
out  in  rain  and  mud  about  three  miles.  Next  day  it  rained  hard. 
We  started  about  noon,  marching  ten  miles.  This  was  severe  on 
the  officers  who  had  never  marched  before.  On  Friday,  the  4th, 
we  went  forward,  and  after  dinner  waded  Elk  River,  marching 
fifteen  miles.  In  the  afternoon,  James  Hazlehurst,  of  Company 
K,  was  accidentally  shot,  and  four  men  were  detailed  to  bury 
him.  On  Saturday,  November  5th,  we  entered  Pulaski,  and 
made  camp  on  a  ridge  two  miles  north  of  town.  The  body  of 
Hazlehurst  was  brought  forward  and  buried  there.  Rifle  pits 
were  thrown  up.  On  Tuesday,  the  8th,  the  regiment  was  paid 
off  for  the  first  time  in  many  months. 

On  the  12th,  telegraphic  communication  with  Sherman  ceased, 
and  henceforth  the  brunt  of  Hood's  blows  were  to  fall  on  us.  On 
Monday,  the  14th,  one  hundred  and  eighty  recruits  arrived  as 
the  result  of  the  draft,  and  next  day  were  assigned  to  different 
companies.  Their  ignorance  of  army  ways  and  discipline  was 


628  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

for  a  while  a  source  of  great  amusement  to  the  veterans,  but  they 
soon  began  to  show  good  soldiership.  One  man  on  being  detailed 
for  duty,  replied,  "Nay,  I  can't  go  to-day,  I  have  some  letters 
that  I  must  write."  He  soon  learned  better. 

All  this  time  we  were  waiting  to  ascertain  Hood's  intentions, 
but  he  was  detained  for  his  supplies  and  by  the  high  stage  of 
water  until  the  19th,  when  his  plans  for  advance  were  fully 
developed.  Gen.  Thomas  had  hoped  that  the  delay  might  con 
tinue  long  enough  to  gather  his  reinforcements  and  defend  the 
line  of  Duck  River,  but  the  troops  he  had  expected  failed  to 
arrive  in  time.  There  was  nothing  left  then  but  to  fall  back. 
On  Tuesday,  November  22nd,  while  our  cavalry  checked  Hood's 
advance,  we  began  our  march  on  Columbia.  The  weather  was 
bitterly  cold,  and  the  recruits  suffered  a  good  deal.  Our  camp 
at  Lynnville,  twelve  miles  out,  was  so  bleak  as  to  remind  us  of 
Elaine's  Cross  Roads.  Next  day  we  changed  camp  about  one 
and  a-half  miles,  but  in  the  night  Gen. '  Stanley  was  informed 
that  Hood's  advance  was  so  rapid  that  the  cavalry  which  was  at 
Mount  Pleasant,  nearer  to  Columbia  than  we  were,  was  already 
driven  in  by  infantry.  We  were  aroused,  and  at  three  o'clock 
were  making  a  forced  march,  reaching  Columbia  about  half-past 
ten. 

Just  before  arriving,  we  heard  heavy  firing  on  the  Mount 
Pleasant  Road,  where  Gen.  Cox  was  driving  back  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  barely  in  time  to  save  the  town.  The  troops  were  imme 
diately  disposed  in  line,  and  breastworks  were  thrown  up,  with 
sharpened  stakes  in  front.  During  that  day  and  the  next,  the 
works  were  constantly  strengthened,  while  heavy  skirmishing 
continued  on  both  pikes.  On  Friday  night,  after  dark,  we  were 
moved  over  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  line  and  again  threw  up 
works,  which  were  strengthened  constantly  next  day.  By  this  time 


CHAPLAIN'S  [RESIGNATION  ACCEPTED.  629 

the  enemy's  infantry  appeared  and  pressed  our  lines  at  every  point, 
and  we  were  required  to  be  ready  for  an  attack  at  any  moment. 
It  rained  all  day,  making  things  particularly  gloomy  and  unpleas 
ant,  and  at  night  we  prepared  to  cross  the  river,  as  Hood  was  try 
ing  to  flank  us.  But  the  night  proved  horribly  dark,  and  the 
storm  had  made  the  bridge  unsafe,  so  the  movement  was  post 
poned  twenty-four  hours — a  delay,  which,  by  giving  Hood  the 
start,  cost  us  dearly  at  Franklin,  three  day  afterwards. 

On  Sunday  we  lay  behind  our  works.  Notification  was  here 
received  that  the  Chaplain's  resignation,  which  had  been  sent  in 
some  time  before,  was  accepted,  and  in  the  afternoon,  though 
ready  every  moment  for  an  attack,  a  farewell  service  was  held 
behind  the  breastworks,  after  which,  the  men  who  had  recently 
been  paid  off,  made  up  their  packages  of  money  for  home.  At 
nine  o'clock  p.  M.,  the  movement  across  the  river  commenced, 
and  we  made  camp  about  midnight  in  the  woods  on  the  other  side. 
Next  morning,  with  the  warm-hearted  greetings  of  the  officers, 
with  whom  he  had  been  associated  in  army  life  so  long  and  so 
pleasantly,  and  with  a  hearty  hand-shaking  all  through  the  regi 
ment,  the  Chaplain  started  for  Nashville.  At  his  departure, 
besides  the  soldiers'  money,  sixty  dollars  were  placed  in  his  hands 
to  renew  their  supply  of  reading  matter — he  promising  to  attend 
to  their  interests  in  this  respect  as  long  as  they  were  without  a 
chaplain.  He  was  also  requested  to  publish  in  one  of  the  papers 
circulated  in  the  regiment,  a  summary  of  what  provision  had 
been  made  for  reading  matter  during  his  chaplaincy.  This  was 
done,  but  before  it  could  reach  them,  a  good  many  of  those  who 
requested  it  had  laid  down  their  lives.  With  a  short  extract  from 
that  report,  his  connection  with  the  regiment  and  with  this  his 
tory  of  its  achievements  may  appropriately  close, 


630  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

REPORT. 

There  lias  been  contributed  by  the  regiment  during  the  period 
covered  by  this  report,  the  sum  of  $582,  which,  together  with 
$41  given  me  to  commence  with,  makes  a  total  of  $623.  During 
the  same  period  there  have  been  distributed  5,450  copies  Tract 
Journal,  Christian  Banner  and  American  Messenger  ;  720  copies 
Christian  Times,  520  N.  W.  Christian  Advocate,  1,586  Chicago 
Journal,  N.  W.  Evening  Post,  and  Army  $  Navy  Journal ; 
536  copies  Harper,  Atlantic,  Continental  and  Eclectic  Magazines, 
200  copies  Christian  Press,  2,000  Tracts,  300  Soldiers'  Books,  7 
Soldiers'  Libraries,  800  Hymn  Books,  Testaments  (English  and 
German),  and  a  large  quantity  of  miscellaneous  books  arid  papers, 
English,  German  and  Norwegian.  At  the  same  time  there  have 
been  held  76  public  services  with  the  regiment,  119  prayer  meet 
ings,  55  Bible  classes. 

Not  a  few  of  the  most  pious  men  have  laid  down  their  lives. 
It  is  sad  to  know  that  only  two  days  after  I  bade  them  farewell 
on  the  banks  of  Duck  River,  they  were  again  found  in  the  thick 
est  of  the  fight  and  slaughter  at  Franklin.  Among  the  killed  was 
Lieut.  Col.  Olson,  the  brave  and  beloved  Commander,  and  among 
the  wounded,  Lieut.  C.  F.  Case,  the  no  less  brave  and  beloved 
Adjutant.  To  these  were  added  a  long  list  of  gallant  names, 
which  has  not  yet  been  fully  received. 

Should  the  eyes  of  those  brave  few  who  still  survive  of  the 
"old  36th  "  behold  these  lines,  let  them  be  assured  of  the  deep 
and  brotherly  sympathy  of  one  who  has  been  with  them  in  the 
perils  and  toils  of  more  than  two  years,  and  whose  remembrance 
of  their  patience,  their  fortitude,  and  their  devotion  to  their  coun 
try,  can  never  be  obliterated. 

May  our  Father  who  is  in  heaven,  have  them  in  his  gracious 
keeping,  and,  if  it  can  be,  shield  the  little  remnant  from  future 
slaughter.  But  if  it  must  be  that  others  also  shall  lay  down  their 
lives  in  battle,  that  any  of  their  eyes  must  close  upon  this  loved 
laud  ere  the  object  for  which  they  have  fought  shall  be  fully 
attained,  0  that  it  may  be  with  them  all  that  by  a  timely  seeking 
of  the  precious  Savior,  those  eyes,  when  they  grow  dim  and  dark 
to  earth,  may  open  upon  "  the  better  land." 


CHAPTER    XL. 

SPRING  HILL. 

[EFINITE  information  that  Hood's  army  was  cross 
ing  Duck  river  in  force,  moving  rapidly  northward, 
on  roads  parallel  with  the  Columbia  and  Franklin 
Pike,  and  from  two  to  four  miles  distant,  was 
received  from  Col.  Post,  who,  with  his  brigade, 
had  been  sent  up  the  river  to  reconnoitre  and  watch  the  enemy's 
movements.  Thereupon  the  1st  and  2nd  Divisions  of  the  4th 
Corps,  commanded  respectively  by  Gens.  Kimball  and  Wagner, 
were  directed  to  proceed  to  Franklin  with  the  baorgage  and 

i  OO     O 

ordnance  trains,  as  well  as  the  reserve  artillery.  At  eight  o'clock 
A.  M.  of  the  29th,  the  trains  were  drawn  out  upon  the  pike  and 
the  march  commenced,  interrupted  only  by  the  little  halts  insep 
arably  connected  with  the  movement  of  a  long  wagon  train. 
The  2nd  Division  was  in  the  advance  preceding  the  train.  The 
roads  were  in  fine  condition,  the  troops  marched  well,  and  rapid 
progress  was  made.  Four  miles  north  of  Columbia  the  road 
crosses  Rutherford's  Creek,  an  affluent  of  Duck  river.  Here 
Kimball's  Division  (the  1st)  was  halted,  and  took  up  a  defensive 
position  on  the  south  side  of  the  creek,  fronting  east  to  cover  the 
crossing,  it  being  apprehended  the  enemy  might  make  a  flank 


632  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

attack  somewhere  in  that  locality  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  off 
the  retreat. 

The  2nd  Division,  to  which  the  36th  Illinois  was  attached, 
continued  its  march  up  the  pike  in  advance  of  the  train.  On 
approaching  Spring  Hill,  a  small  village  and  courier  post  twelve 
miles  north  of  Columbia,  where  a  detachment  of  cavalry  was 
stationed,  the  head  of  the  column  was  met  by  a  badly  scared 
trooper,  who,  hatless  and  in  an  otherwise  demoralized  condition, 
represented  that  he  was  making  his  escape  from  a  force  of  Rebel 
cavalry,  which  in  great  numbers  were  menacing  the  town,  the 
garrison  of  which  was  quite  too  small  to  contend  successfully 
with  the  overwhelming  numbers  preparing  to  sweep  down  upon 
them. 

At  that  moment  a  rattling  fire  of  carbines  heard  in  front  con 
firmed  the  trooper's  story,  indicating  clearly  that  the  enemy  by  a 
forced  march  had  outstripped  Gen.  Stanley's  command,  and  by 
moving  rapidly  north  on  a  converging  road  had  struck  the  line 
of  retreat  at  Spring  Hill  and  had  nearly  gained  possession  of 
the  town. 

Orders  were  given  to  advance  rapidly  to  the  assistance  of  the 
detachment  then  hotly  engaged  in  the  eastern  suburbs  of  the 
place.  The  36th  took  the  lead,  and  being  incited  thereto  by  the 
noise  of  small  arms  in  front,  and  by  the  personal  presence  of 
Gens.  Stanley  and  Wagner  they  double-quicked  two  miles,  arriv 
ing  in  time  to  meet  the  enemy  and  rescue  the  town  and  its  small 
squad  of  defenders  from  capture. 

Opdyke's  Brigade  passed  through  the  village  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  in  the  direction  of  Franklin,  deploying  as  they  advanced 
arid  formed  to  the  right  of  the  road  and  parallel  with  it,  on 
elevated  ground.  Clouds  of  Forest's  cavalry  were  hovering 
near,  and  forming  in  line  of  battle  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 


OPDYKE'S  GALLANT  DEFENSE.  633 

mile  away,  preparatory  to  a  charge  upon  the  position  held  by  the 
36th.  Not  long  had  they  to  wait,  for  like  waves  angrily  rolling 
upon  a  storm- washed  beach  they  dashed  across  the  fields,  raising 
great  clouds  of  dust,  and  charged  impetuously  upon  Opdyke's 
lines  with  a  yell.  But  his  men  were  all  inured  to  the  turmoil  of 
war,  and  to  them  this  sudden  dash  of  Rebel  fury  had  no  terrors. 
A  few  rounds  of  musketry,  poured  with  damaging  effect  into  the 
Rebel  squadrons,  checked  the  charge.  But  the  marshaling  of 
battalions,  the  yell  of  combatants,  the  clangor  of  small  arms  and 
the  rumbling  thunder  of  charging  squadrons,  never  divested  the 
Federal  troops  of  their  presence  of  mind.  Courageously  they 
maintained  their  position,  reserving  their  fire  until  the  enemy  was 
near  enough  to  render  it  effective,  then  delivering  their  volleys 
with  fatal  precision,  laying  many  of  Forest's  hard-riding  caval 
iers  in  the  dust.  Checked  in  the  assault,  they  finally  gave  way, 
and  broken  and  dismayed,  retreated  in  confusion. 

Soon  after,  Opdyke's  Brigade  was  again  threatened  by  cavalry, 
which  was  seen  forming  in  the  edge  of  the  timber,  less  than  half 
a  mile  distant.  A  Confederate  general  officer  and  his  staff,  whom 
we  subsequently  learned  was  Gen.  Cheatham,  at  the  head  of  his 
corps,  was  observed  reconnoitering  our  position.  His  command 
was  just  coming  up,  and  formed  in  reserve,  with  the  apparent 
intention  of  supporting  the  cavalry.  A  cannon  was  wheeled 
into  position  and  tossed  a  few  shells  in  that  direction  by  way  of 
a  complimentary  salute,  but  he  showed  a  want  of  appreciation 
of  the  intended  honor  by  hastily  taking  shelter  behind  a  belt  of 
timber. 

Observing  bodies  of  cavalry  massing  in  the  open  field  east  of 
the  town,  Gen.  Stanley  directed  Gen.  Wagner  to  deploy  his  divi 
sion  at  once,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  hold  the  place  and  protect 
the  trains  then  being  parked.  Accordingly  Gen.  Bradley 's  Bri 
gade  was  sent  to  a  wooded  knoll,  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile 


(334  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

east  of  the  pike,  which  commanded  the  approaches  in  that  direc 
tion.  Lane's  Brigade  was  deployed  nearer  the  town,  partially  in 
rear  of  Bradley  and  at  the  right  of  Opdyke,  covering  the  trains 
then  being  parked  in  his  rear.  Opdyke  occupied  his  first  posi 
tion  on  the  left  of  the  line.  At  the  time  these  dispositions  were 
made,  it  was  not  apprehended  that  heavy  forces  of  infantry  were 
near,  and  it  was  supposed  that  sudden  dashes  of  cavalry  were  all 
that  had  to  be  guarded  against.  In  front  of  Bradley,  heavy  lines 
of  what  at  the  time  was  supposed  to  be  Rebel  cavalry  were 
advanced.  Their  numbers  were  certainly  being  augmented  by 
troops  hurrying  up  from  before  Columbia,  and  ere  long,  from  the 
steadily  accumulating  mass  of  men  seen  both  in  the  fields  and 
bordering  timber,  it  became  evident  that  much  of  Hood's  army 
was  confronting  the  detachment  holding  Spring  Hill.  This 
opinion  was  confirmed  by  a  dispatch  from  Gen.  Schofield,  stating 
that  the  eneny  had  been  crossing  Duck  River,  with  their  trains 
passing  around  his  flank,  and  marching  northward  on  roads  con 
verging  at  Spring  Hill.  This  left  no  longer  any  room  for  doubt 
that  Gen.  Wagner's  Division  was  then  confronting  a  largely 
superior  force  of  infantry  as  well  as  cavalry. 

Very  soon  our  whole  line  was  assailed,  and  skirmishes  of  greater 
or  less  severity  continued  at  intervals  during  the  afternoon.  While 
Bradley's  veterans  on  the  right  were  manfully  combating  arid  suc 
cessfully  resisting  the  solid  masses  hurled  against  them,  Opdyke' s 
Brigade  on  the  left  was  not  entirely  idle.  Forest's  Cavalry  was 
on  the  alert  for  opportunities  to  deal  effective  blows,  and  on  detect 
ing  an  apparently  weak  point  in  the  line,  a  column  of  his  hard 
riders  was  sure  to  be  hurled  against  it. 

The  position  of  the  36th,  crowning  an  elevation  overlooking 
much  of  the  field,  disclosed  the  enemy's  movements  and  enabled 
it  to  be  prepared  for  any  emergency.  Cavalry  dashes  upon  our 


WORK  OF  BKADLEY'S  BRIGADE.  635 

left,  for  the  purpose  of  diverting  attention  and  preventing  re-in- 
forcements  from  going  to  Bradley's  assistance,  were  of  frequent 
occurrence.  They  came  and  went  like  summer  clouds;  now 
sweeping  down  upon  Opdyke,  and  then  passing  as  suddenly  away, 
before  there  was  time  to  concentrate  in  any  strength  against  them. 
Still  our  lines  remained  intact,  and  our  troops  and  trains  were 
safe. 

Gen.  Bradley's  Brigade,  being  the  nearest  to  the  enemy  and 
the  most  open  to  attack,  received  their  fiercest  assaults,  and  it 
soon  became  apparent  that  his  assailants  fought  too  well  for  dis 
mounted  cavalry.  About  four  o'clock  p.  M.,  Cleburn's  Division 
of  infantry,  supported  by  cavalry,  took  up  a  position  in  front 
and  flank  of  Bradley,  and  commenced  a  vigorous  attack,  driving 
the  skirmishers  upon  the  reserves,  and,  pressing  forward  to  within 
a  few  yards  of  our  lines,  poured  a  terrible  cross-fire  upon  the 
front  and  right.  At  the  first  onset,  it  seemed  as  if  the  Federals 
must  be  overwhelmed  and  swept  from  their  position  and  leave  the 
trains  exposed  to  capture  and  destruction.  But  the  3rd  Brigade 
was  largely  composed  of  veteran  soldiers,  whose  courage  in  times 
of  danger  had  often  been  tested,  and  whose  coolness  never  for 
sook  them.  The  charging  squadrons  were  befittingly  received, 
with  sweeping  volleys  of  musketry  at  short  range,  which  shook 
the  Confederate  line.  They  could  not  face  such  a  withering  storm 
of  lead,  and  soon  fell  back  sullenly,  fighting  as  they  retired. 

Being  reinforced,  they  came  on  a  second  time,  and  while  closely 
pressing  the  front,  assaulted  the  flank  of  the  brigade  with  a  force 
sufficient  to  overlap  its  right,  and  double  it  back  upon  the  road 
and  into  the  southern  outskirts  of  the  village.  While  encourag 
ing  his  men  and  attempting  to  stay  the  retreat  of  his  right  wing, 
Gen.  Bradley  was  severely  wounded  and  compelled  to  retire, 
relinquishing  the  command  to  Col.  Conrad,  of  the  15th  Missouri, 


636  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

At  this  critical  stage  of  the  engagement,  affairs  on  the  right 
wore  a  gloomy  aspect.     A  cavalry  force,  passing  around  the  left, 
had  gained  our  rear  and  was  threatening  the  railroad  station. 
Gen.  Stanley  could  spare  but  few  troops  to  re-inforce  Bradley, 
lest  he  should  thereby  expose  his  train  to  capture  or  destruction. 
A  single  regiment  was  all  that  could  be  spared,  and  Col.  Olson 
was  despatched  with  the   36th   to  re-inforce  the   3rd  Brigade. 
Their  ammunition  was  nearly  exhausted,  and  not  finding  their  own 
ordnance  train,  Capt.  Beeman,  the  3rd  Division  ordnance  officer, 
kindly  furnished  all  that  was  required.     On  reaching  the  position 
assigned  them,  they  found  the  right  wing  being  gradually  forced 
back  upon  the  pike.      Their  timely  arrival  checked  the  retreat 
and  saved  the  right.     Forming  in  a  hollow  a  short  distance  south 
of  town,  the  shattered  brigade  rallied  and  re-formed  in  rear  of  the 
36th.     The  efforts  of  the  infantry  were  gallantly  seconded  by  a 
battery  of  eight  guns  upon  the  pike,  and  making  a  determined 
stand,  the  over-confident  enemy  was  again  driven  back  with  loss. 
A  supporting  column,  while  crossing  a  cornfield,  fell  under  the 
enfilading  fire  of  our  artillery,  stationed  a  short  distance  south 
of  town,  which,  striking  them  unexpectedly  in  fiank,  cooled  their 
ardor  and  hastened  their  retreat.      In  this  second  assault  and 
repulse,  the  loss  was  severe  on  both  sides.      The  enemy  paid 
dearly  for  their  temerity,  and  left  many  dead  and  wounded*  upon 
the  field.     A  part  of  the  attacking  force  fled  to  the  rear,  out  of 
range  of  artillery ;  another  portion   sought  cover  in  a  ravine, 
crossing  the  field  at  our  right,  and  about  equi-distant  between  the 
opposing  lines,  where  they  remained,  concealed  and    sheltered 
from  our  searching  missiles,  until  night,  when   under  cover  of 
darkness  they  succeeded  in  reaching  their  own  linos. 

This   repulse  seemed  to  have   produced  a  marked  effect  upon 
the  enemy,  yet   another  charge  was  organized  and  strong  lines 


SOME    DESULTORY   FIGHTING.  637 

formed  further  to  the  right  for  an  assault.  Acting  under  orders 
from  Gen.  Wagner,  Col.  Olson  retired  his  line  one  hundred  and 
fifty  yards  into  the  southern  outskirts  of  the  town,  and  there 
awaited  the  Rebel  onset.  Their  attack  was  not  vigorously  pressed? 
and  aside  from  a  scattering  fire  at  long  range,  but  few  shots  were 
exchanged,  with  trifling  loss  to  either  side.  The  enemy  appeared 
to  be  maneuvering  for  an  advantageous  and  less  exposed  position, 
from  whence  to  demonstrate  upon  the  road,  and  to  assail  in  flank 
and  rear  the  single  obstinate  division,  that  up  to  this  time  had 
successfully  defied  the  efforts  of  a  whole  army  corps  and  remained 
masters  of  the  field. 

While  the  3rd  Brigade,  assisted  by  the  36th,  was  thus  hotly 
engaged,  and  the  1st  and  2nd  were  holding  the  town  and  pro 
tecting  the  trains  parked  within  it,  a  number  of  wagons  passing 
on  in  the  direction  of  Franklin,  without  escort,  were  attacked  at 
Thompson's  Station,  three  miles  north  of  Spring  Hill,  the  team 
sters  and  train  men  dispersed,  and  the  wagons  with  their  con 
tents  burned.  The  appearance  of  Confederate  cavalry  west  of 
the  town,  threatening  an  attack  in  the  rear,  and  the  fierce  assaults 
upon  the  right,  convinced  Gen.  Stanley  that  he  was  surrounded, 
and  that  it  would  be  no  easy  matter  to  escape  the  perils  which 
environed  him. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when  night  put  an  end  to 
the  desultory  fighting.  Our  lines  were  a  little  withdrawn  to 
positions  nearer  town,  with  the  flanks  resting  upon  the  pike, 
the  centre  to  the  east  thrown  out  in  the  form  of  an  arc,  its 
convexity  towards  the  enemy,  to  afford  protection  to  the  troops 
and  trains  moving  up  from  Columbia.  Stanley's  single  division 
was  closely  hemmed  in  by  Forest's  cavalry  and  two  corps 
(Cheatham's  and  Stewart's)  of  Rebel  infantry.  As  darkness 
was  shrouding  the  landscape,  a  strong  column  of  the  enemy  was 


638  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

observed  crossing  the  road  a  half  mile  south  of  town,  with  the 
apparent  intention  of  blocking  the  road  and  disputing  the  pas 
sage  of  the  23rd  and  the  balance  of  the  4th  Corps,  then  hurry 
ing  up  from  Columbia  and  momentarily  expected  at  Spring  Hill 
While  the  combat  was  raging  south  of  town,  in  the  last  Rebel 
charge  upon  our  right,  Michael  Divine,  of  Company  E,  was 
struck  by  a  rifle  shot,  receiving  a  painful  and  what  proved  to  be 
a  mortal  wound.  His  comrades  carried  him  back  a  few  yards 
and  laid  him  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  the  thick  spreading  branches 
of  which  formed  a  temporary  shelter  from  the  winds  and  open 
air.  On  retiring  from  this  position,  Divine  was  left  where  his 
comrades  had  laid  him.  The  sombre  shades  of  night  had  cur 
tained  field  and  woodland,  and  quiet  reigned  in  camp,  when  a 
wailing  cry  of  distress  came  up  from  the  little  valley,  and  through 
the  gloom  of  night  was  heard  in  the  camp  of  the  36th.  Great 
sympathizing  hearts  swelled  with  emotion  on  hearing  the  plain 
tive  cry  of  a  wounded  comrade,  and  Silas  Dyer,  Henry  Henness 
and  Patrick  Connor  volunteered  to  go  to  his  relief,  and,  if  possi 
ble  bring  him  within  our  lines.  They  passed  silently  down  the 
road  to  where  poor  Divine  was  lying,  guided  by  his  agonizing 
moans.  On  their  way  they  saw  no  Rebels,  but  in  returning  they 
passed  within  arms  length  of  a  Rebel  picket  stationed  by  the 
road  side.  Dyer  even  touched  him,  but  he  made  no  movement 
or  uttered  a  word  until  the  party  had  passed,  when  he  fired. 
Other  scattering  shots  were  sent  after  the  rapidly  vanishing 
party  ;  the  bullets  whistled  about  their  heads  like  swarming  bees, 
but  they  reached  the  lines  with  their  mangled  burden  unharmed, 
and  carried  him  to  an  ambulance.  Poor  Mike  got  his  furlough 
shortly  after,  and  left  the  service  forever  !  But  what  shall  we 
say  of  the  brave  boys  who  entered  the  Rebel  lines  for  the  man 
gled  remains  of  a  comrade?  Worthy  each  one  of  them  of  a 


LIEUT.  HALL'S  MISTAKE.  639 

medal  of  honor.  Worthy  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  their  com 
rades,  and  a  bright  page  in  the  history  of  their  regiment. 

To  ascertain  the  position  and  strength  of  the  Rebel  column, 
supposed  to  be  upon  the  road,  Gen.  Stanley  ordered  Lieut.  Col. 
Olson  to  proceed  cautiously  down  the  road,  keep  it  clear,  and  at 
the  same  time  hold  the  enemy  in  check,  until  the  arrival  of  the 
troops  from  Columbia.  The  night  was  intensely  dark.  Com 
pany  B  was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  followed  closely  by  the 
remainder  of  the  regiment  moving  with  the  utmost  stillness  and 
prepared  for  sudden  emergencies.  They  were  nearly  an  hour 
proceeding  a  half  mile,  at  length  reaching  a  small  stream  south 
of  town,  spanned  by  a  bridge.  The  low  murmur  of  voices — the 
soft  tread  of  men,  sounding  like  summer  zephyrs  whispering 
among  the  leaves,  was  heard  in  the  advance,  but  whether  pro 
ceeding  from  friend  or  foe  was  a  matter  of  uncertainty.  When 
last  seen  the  latter  was  in  strong  force  somewhere  in  this  locality, 
and  if  suddenly  encountered,  the  flash  of  musketry  would  prob 
ably  be  the  first  salutation  to  greet  them. 

On  approaching  the  bridge,  Lieut.  Hall,  of  Company  E, 
observed  the  shadowy  outline  of  an  object,  which  on  a  nearer 
inspection  he  was  enabled  to  make  out  as  that  of  a  man  on  horse 
back.  Conjecturing  that  this  was  a  big  negro  cook  or  supernu 
merary  for  some  officer,  he  rushed  up,  seized  the  horse  by  his  bits, 
pushed  him  partially  from  the  bridge,  and  struck  the  rider  a  smart 
blow  with  the  flat  of  his  sword,  at  the  same  time  calling  out, 
"Why  in  h — 1  are  you  blocking  the  way,  sir?"  The  person 
thus  rudely  accosted  shouted  to  his  escort,  "  Catch  the  d — d 
scallawag,  catch  him!"  The  Lieutenant  recognized  the  voice 
of  Gen.  Whittaker,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  column  just 
then  arriving  from  Columbia.  Before  the  General's  order  could 
be  executed,  the  Lieutenant  recollected  that  he  had  urgent  busi- 


640  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

ness  at  another  part  of  the  line,  and  suddenly  disappeared  in  the 
darkness. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  troops  at  Columbia  commenced  their 
withdrawal  from  the  north  bank  of  Duck  river,  at  which  time  the 
most  of  the  confederate  forces  had  crossed  higher  up  and  marched 
rapidly  northward.  Gen.  Cox's  Division  of  the  23rd  Corps  took 
the  lead  and  reached  Spring  Hill  at  seven  p.  M.  This  was  the 
column  the  36th  met  at  the  bridge  a  half  mile  south  of  town. 

Before  reaching  Spring  Hill,  Gen.  Cox  had  encountered  a  col 
umn  of  the  enemy  drawn  up  across  the  pike,  and  considerable 
random  firing  in  the  darkness  ensued  before  they  were  driven 
away.  The  Third  Division  of  the  4th  Corps  followed  closely 
after  the  23rd  Corps,  and  Gen.  Kimball  with  the  First  Division 
brought  up  the  rear,  and  covered  the  retreat  from  Columbia.  This 
movement  was  protracted  and  the  column  long  drawn  out. 
Hence  Gen.  Kimball's  Division,  comprising  the  rear  guard,  failed 
to  reach  Spring  Hill  until  two  o'clock  in  the  morning.  As  fast 
as  the  troops  came  up,  they  took  up  positions  on  the  east  side  of 
the  pike  and  parallel  with  it  to  cover  the  movement  to  Franklin. 

The  trains  were  then  drawn  out  upon  the  pike  and  pushed  for 
ward  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  pickets  reported  the  move 
ments  of  Rebel  detachments  during  the  night.  Many,  crossing 
the  pike  and  marching  west  of  the  road,  gained  favorable  posi 
tions  among  the  hills  near  Thompson's  Station,  to  cut  oif  and 
attempt  the  capture  of  the  trains.  The  question  of  burning 
them  was  seriously  entertained,  but  finally  it  was  determined  to 
push  on — fight  any  opposing  force  that  should  be  encountered, 
and  save  the  trains,  at  all  hazards. 

At  one  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  trains  began  to  move.  The  wagons, 
including  ambulances,  numbered  eight  hundred.  At  the  outset, 
they  had  to  pass  singly  over  a  narrow  bridge,  and  so  tedious  was 


OUR    SUCCESSFUL    RETREAT.  641 

the  operation,  that  it  was  a  matter  of  doubt  if  they  could  be  put 
upon  the  road  until  daylight.  Unless  this  could  be  done  and  the 
troops  got  well  under  way,  they  were  sure  of  being  attacked  by 
the  whole  Rebel  army,  which  had  come  up  and  bivouaced  but  a 
few  hundred  yards  from  the  road,  and  within  hail  of  our  picket 
lines.  Their  camp-fires  burned  brightly,  and  around  them  could 
plainly  be  seen  squads  of  Confederates,  warming  themselves,  or 
cooking  a  frugal  meal,  in  preparation  for  the  excitement  of  the 
coming  day.  Should  the  conflict  be  renewed  at  Spring  Hill, 
and  the  columns  be  attacked  while  on  the  march,  we  would  be 
forced  to  fight  under  every  disadvantage  and  against  heavy  odds. 

Staff-officers  hurried  and  assisted  the  teamsters,  and  every 
thing  promised  well,  when  the  train  was  brought  to  a  sudden 
stand-still.  Word  came  that  the  head  of  the  train  was  attacked 
at  Thompson's  station,  and  there  was  danger  of  its  entire 
destruction.  Again  was  Gen.  Stanley  advised  to  burn  it,  but 
the  value  of  the  property  and  the  interests  at  stake,  warranted 
the  effort  to  save  the  train.  Gen.  Kimball  was  ordered  to  push 
on  with  the  1st  Division  and  clear  the  road  ;  while  Gen.  Wood, 
with  the  3rd  Division,  was  directed  to  move  with  the  train,  on  the 
right,  to  guard  against  assaults  from  that  quarter.  Before  Gen. 
Kimball  reached  Thompson's  Station,  Maj.  Stcele,  of  Gen.  Stan 
ley's  staff,  had  gathered  a  squad  of  stragglers  and  driven  off  the 
attacking  party,  who  succeeded  in  burning  only  ten  wagons. 

Again  was  the  train  put  in  motion,  and  by  the  most  herculean 
efforts,  the  last  wagon  quitted  Spring  Hill  and  was  upon  the  pike 
at  five  o'clock  A.  M.  Much  was  due  to  the  firmness  and  coolness 
of  Capt.  John  A.  Beeman,  who  had  charge  of  the  ordnance  train, 
for  the  accomplishment  of  this  result.  Standing  at  the  bridge, 
over  which  but  one  wagon  could  pass  at  a  time,  he  kept  the  road 
clear  of  obstruction  and  repressed  every  indication  of  panic, 


642  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

which  the  nearness  of  the  enemy  and  the  hot-headed  impulsive 
ness  of  artillery  and  cavalry  officers  were  at  various  times  upon 
the  point  of  inaugurating. 

Col.  Opdyke's  Brigade  brought  up  the  rear,  and  throughout 
the  long,  anxious  night  his  men  lay  by  the  side  of  the  pike, 
awaiting  the  passage  of  the  troops  and  trains.  Wearied  with 
the  previous  day's  marching  and  fighting,  those  not  on  picket  or 
detailed  for  special  duties,  lay  by  the  roadside,  behind  logs  or 
in  the  brush,  and  slept  soundly.  Such  was  the  critical  state  of 
affairs,  that  few  of  the  officers  slept  at  all.  Before  daylight,  the 
entire  army  was  on  the  road,  marching  briskly  towards  Frank 
lin — Col.  Opdyke's  Brigade  being  the  last  to  leave  Spring  Hill. 

In  the  engagement  at  Spring  Hill,  our  loss  was  about  two 
hundred  men.  Gen.  Bradley's  Brigade  suffered  the  worst,  hav 
ing  lost  one  hundred  and  fifty,  in  killed,  wounded  and  miss 
ing.  The  losses  sustained  by  the  other  brigades  and  the  detach 
ment  guarding  the  town,  were  slight,  they  having  been  principally 
engaged  with  cavalry.  This  was  the  first  time  in  its  history  that 
the  36th  had  met  a  cavalry  charge  in  force,  and  the  ease  with 
which  it  was  repelled  did  not  heighten  their  opinion  of  this  arm 
of  the  service,  and  particularly  of  Forest's  famed  troopers.  The 
wounding  of  Gen.  Bradley  in  the  midst  of  the  engagement,  and 
his  retirement  from  the  field,  was  a  serious  loss  to  the  Federal 
cause.  By  his  conspicuous  gallantry  and  the  determined  valor 
of  his  brigade,  incited  by  the  example  of  their  leader,  a  whole 
Rebel  division,  commanded  by  Cleburn  in  person,  who  was  justly 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  intrepid  officers  in  the  Confederate 
service,  was  repeatedly  repulsed  and  driven  with  loss  from  the 
field.  The  position  was  held  ;  the  trains  saved,  and  the  retreat 
to  Franklin  effected  in  comparative  safety  and  with  trifling  loss. 


CASUALTIES  OF  THE  BATTLE.  643 

The  following  casualties  were  sustained  by  the  36th  in  this 
affair  :  Michael  Divine,  wounded — since  dead  ;  George  W.  Lan- 
nigan,  wounded,  both  of  Company  E ;  Edward  Hurr,  Company 
A,  missing ;  William  H.  Moss,  Company  H,  missing.  The 
enemy's  losses  in  the  engagement,  according  to  the  statement  of 
their  surgeons,  were  over  five  hundred. 

Wood's  and  Kimball's  Divisions,  of  the  4th  Corps,  followed 
the  23rd,  but  were  detailed  as  escort,  and  marched  on  the  right 
of  the  pike  and  parallel  with  it.  The  wounded  were  placed  in 
ambulances,  which  formed  a  part  of  the  long  cavalcade.  At  five 
o'clock  A.  M.,  the  whole  train  was  in  motion,  and  Opdyke's  Bri 
gade,  which  had  been  held  in  reserve,  was  aroused,  and  quitted 
Spring  Hill  without  noise  and  without  attracting  the  immediate 
attention  of  the  enemy,  whose  drowsy  pickets  and  smouldering 
camp-fires  were  but  a  few  hundred  yards  away.  Knowing  that 
the  whole  Rebel  army  was  massed  in  the  immediate  neighbor 
hood,  it  was  expected  that  the  march  would  be  opposed,  and  the 
struggle  with  a  largely  superior  force  would  be  a  desperate  one. 

An  attack  might  be  made  at  any  time,  and  when  at  last  the 
order  came  to  advance,  the  men  groped  their  way  in  the  dark 
ness,  fearful  of  arousing  the  foe  or  of  finding  the  enemy  drawn 
up  across  the  road  to  intercept  the  retreat.  But  stillness  brooded 
over  their  encampment ;  the  expected  night  attack  was  not  made. 
The  troops  marched  swiftly,  and  shortly  after  daylight  passed 
the  smouldering  remains  of  the  wagons  burned  at  Thompson's 
Station. 

Daylight  revealed  every  wooded  height  and  commanding  eleva 
tion  in  possession  of  Forest's  cavalry,  that  frequently  swept  down 
upon  the  flanks  of  the  marching  column,  but  Wood's  and  Kimball's 
skirmishers  brushed  them  away  and  easily  repelled  every  charge. 
Still  they  hovered  near,  like  gulls  in  the  wake  of  a  ship  at  sea, 


644  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

or  a  fish-hawk  seeking  its  prey,  just  beyond  musket  range, 
apparently  watching  for  weak  points  to  strike  the  train.  About 
seven  A.  M.  a  spirited  dash  was  made  upon  the  column,  which 
was  immediately  repulsed  by  two  regiments  of  Kimball's  Divis 
ion,  aided  by  a  section  of  artillery  which  was  brought  into  posi 
tion,  and  a  few  shells  sufficed  to  drive  the  enemy  behind  the  hills, 
after  which  they  molested  the  train  and  its  escort  no  more. 

Numbers  of  weary,  foot  sore  stragglers,  unable  to  keep  up  with 
the  main  column,  fell  out  and  lingered  by  the  wayside.  Their 
dejected  and  "gone  up"  expression  of  countenance,  caused  by 
long  marches,  sleepless  nights  and  the  fatigues  of  battle,  indi 
cated  that  the  physical  machine  was  pretty  well  run  down.  Col. 
Opdyke  with  his  brigade  closed  the  column,  and  did  not  allow  a 
single  straggler  to  linger  behind. 

Soon  was  heard  the  confused  murmur  of  excited  pursuit, 
resembling  the  wild  sweep  of  a  tornado  heralded  by  clouds  of 
darkness  and  muttering  thunders.  The  early  gray  of  morning 
revealed  dense  masses  of  confederates  advancing  up  the  pike  in 
hot  pursuit,  while  other  columns,  equally  as  numerous,  stretched 
out  like  vast  wings  and  marched  through  fields  or  on  parallel 
roads  as  if  to  encompass  and  close  in  upon  the  slender  column 
pushing  its  way  to  Franklin.  The  occasional  hum  of  a  bullet 
announced  their  nearness,  and  on  the  crest  of  an  elevation  the 
3Gth  was  formed  behind  trees,  rocks  and  logs  to  retard  the  pur 
suit  which  was  becoming  uncomfortably  close.  Their  advance 
had  come  up  within  easy  range,  and  then  was  halted  by  a  well 
directed  volley.  Another  brought  them  to  an  about-face  and 
sent  them  back  upon  their  supports.  Being  re-inforced,  they 
came  on  with  a  yell,  and  then  it  was  our  turn  to  fall  back,  which 
movement  was  executed  in  quick  time,  but  in  good  order  and 
without  loss. 


THE  REGIMENT'S  REPUTATION.  645 

In  the  meantime  the  88th  Illinois  was  formed  on  the 
next  ridge  in  a  favorable  position,  through  which  the  36th 
retired,  with  orders  to  halt  at  the  first  defensible  point,  and  act 
as  Col.  Olson  should  direct  or  as  circumstances  should  require. 
Thus  was  portions  of  the  brigade  alternately  halted  and  formed 
in  secure  positions  from  whence  the  head  of  the  Rebel  column 
was  assailed.  The  latter  halting,  would  bring  up  artillery, 
deploy  in  force,  and  when  on  the  point  of  storming  the  hill,  the 
detachment  holding  it  would  hurriedly  retire — often  hotly  pur 
sued  by  squadrons  of  cavalry.  In  this  manner  was  mile  after 
mile  of  the  road  stubbornly  fought  over,  and  more  than  one  gray- 
backed  trooper  was  made  to  bite  the  dust. 

The  sturdy  resistance  offered  by  Opdyke  greatly  retarded  the 
advance  of  the  Rebel  center.  His  force  was  too  small,  however, 
to  check  the  flanking  columns,  which  were  usually  in  advance  of 
their  center,  and  once  or  twice,  by  doubling  upon  the  road,  they 
came  near  cutting  off  the  rear  detachment.  Alternate  fighting 
and  retreating  consumed  the  earlier  hours  of  the  day,  and  gave 
time  for  the  construction  of  defensive  works  at  Franklin  and 
enabled  the  trains  to  cross  the  Harpeth  without  being  molested. 

For  the  judicious  manner  in  which  the  retreat  was  conducted, 
Col.  Opdyke  and  his  troops,  comprising  the  rear  guard,  were 
highly  complimented  by  Gen.  Scofield.  Their  intrepidity  ;  the 
energetic  measures  adopted  for  getting  forward  the  worn-out  men, 
and  their  stern  resistance  to  the  advance  of  the  Rebel  army, 
closely  dogging  their  footsteps,  richly  entitled  them  to  the  enco 
miums  so  lavishly  bestowed.  The  confidence  reposed  in  the  36th 
was  evidenced  by  their  being  put  in  places  of  greatest  danger. 
It  was  the  36th  that  led  the  headlong  dash  into  Spring  Hill- 
repulsing  the  Rebel  charge  and  scattering  Forest's  Cavalry  to 
the  winds.  When  Bradley's  Brigade  was  being  roughly  handled 


646  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

and  on  the  point  of  giving  way,  the  36th  hurried  to  its  relief, 
and  restored  the  battle  which  was  nearly  lost.  In  the  delicate, 
as  well  as  dangerous,  duty  of  clearing  the  pike  and  holding  it 
open  to  enable  the  troops  from  Columbia  to  pass  without  inter 
ruption,  the  36th  was  selected ;  and  to  the  cool  courage  of  Col. 
Olson  and  the  gallant  36th,  in  checking  and  delaying  the  march 
of  Hood's  army  until  the  works  at  Franklin  were  strengthened, 
was  Gen.  Scofield  indebted  in  a  large  measure  for  his  successful 
resistance  and  victory  at  the  battle  of  Franklin. 


CHAPTER   XL1. 

BATTLE    OF    FRANKLIN. 

T  IS  with  many  misgivings  that  we  attempt  a  detailed 
account  of  the  battle  of  Franklin — as  fierce  and 
bloody  in  proportion  to  the  numbers  engaged  as 
any  of  the  many  fights  that  occurred  during 
the  war  of  the  Rebellion.  The  details  when  truth 
fully  written  and  fully  understood,  give  birth  to 
both  pride  and  sorrow  to  those  of  the  36th  who 
survived  the  terrible  ordeal  of  fire  arid  blood.  Pride  at  the  gal 
lantry  and  heroic  devotion  displayed  by  every  man  of  whatever 
rank  or  station,  who  fought  in  its  ranks,  and  sorrow  for  the  num- 


THE   AllRIVAL   AT   FR&NKLIN.  647 

bers  who  sealed  their  devotion  to  their  country  by  their  blood  ! 
Sorrow  arid  weeping  for  the  brave  Olson,  who  was  among  the  first 
that  fell  with  his  face  to  the  foe.  AVords  are  feeble  in  commen 
dation  of  him,  one  of  the  noblest  of  the  country's  heroes,  and 
feeble  in  expressions  of  a  country's  gratitude  to  those  who  sac 
rificed  so  much  for  its  salvation. 

As  has  been  stated,  Gen.  Scofield,  with  the  23rd  Corps,  then 
temporarily  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Cox,  proceeded  direct 
to  Franklin.  The  trains  followed  under  the  immediate  escort  of 
the  divisions  of  Wood  and  Kimball,  of  the  4th  Corps.  The 
troops  marched  by  the  side  of  the  wagons,  and  repulsed  every 
attempt  of  Forest's  cavalry  to  break  the  line  or  destroy  the  train. 

So  through  the  long  dark  hours  the  column  made  its  way,  and 
just  as  morning  was  stepping  out  of  the  shades  of  night,  gilding 
the  trees  and  hill-tops  with  golden  light,  the  head  of  the  column 
entered  Franklin.  But  few  doubted  that  the  rising  sun  was 
ushering  in  a  day  of  blood.  From  the  celerity  of  the  enemy's 
movements,  the  characteristic  persistence  and  energy  of  Hood, 
at  times  approaching  to  rashness,  it  was  generally  believed  that 
his  purpose  was  to  strike  in  detail  and  destroy  the  separate  Fed 
eral  detachments,  then  concentrating  at  Nashville;  and  no  one 
doubted  his  purpose  of  attacking  as  soon  as  his  army,  then  closely 
pressing  our  rear  guard,  could  be  brought  up  and  formed  for  the 
onset. 

Recent  rains  had  raised  the  Ilarpeth  River,  and  the  fords  were 
in  such  bad  condition  as  to  be  nearly  impassable.  No  wagon 
bridge  spanned  the  stream,  and  a  detail  was  at  once  made,  and 
the  town  ransacked  for  planks  to  put  the  railroad  bridge  in 
condition  for  crossing.  At  the  same  time  a  foot-bridge  was  built, 
which  fortunately  proved  available  for  wagons.  The  time  occu 
pied  in  the  construction  of  the  bridges,  and  the  delay  attending 


648  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  passage  of  the  trains  and  public  property,  rendered  it  impos 
sible  to  move  the  army  to  the  north  side  of  the  river  before  the 
enemy  could  come  up  with  a  force  sufficiently  powerful  to  make 
an  attack.  Accordingly  the  troops  were  placed  in  position  as 
they  arrived,  on  the  south  side  and  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town. 
The  23rd  Corps  on  the  left  and  center,  covering  the  Columbia 
pike ;  its  left  resting  upon  the  Harpeth,  above  Franklin.  Gen. 
Kimball,  with  the  1st  Division  of  the  4th  Corps,  arrived  soon 
after  nine  o'clock,  and  took  up  a  position  on  the  right  of  the 
23rd  Corps,  its  right  flank  extending  to  the  river,  below  the 
town. 

At  various  times  Franklin  had  been  occupied  and  slight 
entrenchments  thrown  up  in  its  southern  outskirts.  But  these, 
by  neglect,  had  become  partially  obliterated,  and  at  this  time 
were  of  little  account  as  defences.  Long  before  the  men  com 
prising  this  army  had  learned  the  use  of  pick-axe  and  shovel, 
and  regarded  them  as  among  the  most  effective  weapons  of  war 
fare.  They  no  more  thought  of  prosecuting  a  campaign  suc 
cessfully  without  them,  than  of  winning  a  battle  without  powder 
and  bayonets.  Of  the  4th  Corps,  it  had  passed  into  an  axiom, 
that  they  were  "always  prepared."  On  this  occasion,  the  men 
worked  like  badgers.  The  thud  of  the  pick  and  the  clinking  of 
shovels  succeeded  the  tramp  of  marching  squadrons,  and  in  an 
incredibly  short  time,  a  winrow  of  earth  and  logs,  a  mile  and 
a-half  in  length,  encircled  the  town,  of  sufficiently  formidable 
proportions  to  withstand  a  stout  assault. 

Wood's  Division  (the  3rd),  as  it  filed  into  town,  was  directed 
to  proceed  to  the  river  and  assist  in  crossing  the  wagons  to  the 
north  bank  and  take  favorable  positions  for  watching  the  fords, 
resisting  the  passage  of  cavalry,  which  it  was  apprehended  might 
attempt  to  interrupt  the  line  of  march  to  Nashville. 


RESISTING   HOOD'S    ADVANCE.  649 

The  town  of  Franklin  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  valley  sur 
rounded  by  an  amphitheatre  of  wooded  hills.  Opdyke  with  the 
rear  guard  reached  these  heights  about  noon,  finding  the  balance 
of  the  Second  Division,  under  Gen.  Wagner,  halted  a  mile  or 
more  south  of  town,  and  forming  in  support  of  these,  prepared 
to  resist  the  advance  of  Hood.  Soon  after,  compact  masses  of 
confederates  were  observed  streaming  over  the  hills  like  dark 
thunder  clouds  gathering  for  the  tempest,  and  made  immediate 
preparations  for  attacking  in  force.  The  position  occupied  by 
the  Second  Division  was  too  extensive  to  be  successfully  held, 
and  the  country  being  open  and  favorable  for  the  movements  of 
the  enemy,  Gen.  Wagner  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  position. 

Coming  down  into  the  valley  two  of  his  brigades  were  deployed 
a  few  hundred  yards  in  advance  of  the  main  works— Lane's  to 
the  right  and  Conrad's  to  the  left  of  the  pike,  with  instructions 
to  hold  it  and  keep  the  enemy  in  check  as  long  as  possible,  and 
not  to  retire  until  forced  to  do  so  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  or 
pressed  to  the  rear  by  the  weight  of  numbers.  Here  the  men  in 
accordance  with  their  usual  custom,  excavated  shallow  rifle  pits, 
or  constructed  slight  barricades  of  rails,  to  aid  in  what  proved 
to  be  a  fruitless  attempt  to  stem  the  Rebel  tide,  which  it  was  now 
quite  evident  would  descend  from  the  hills  upon  them. 

When  the  Second  Division  abandoned  the  heights,  the  First 
Brigade  passed  to  the  rear  of  the  entrenchments,  and  at  about 
four  o'clock  p.  M.  halted  within  the  town  in  reserve,  Col.  Opdyke 
receiving  instructions  to  use  his  own  discretion  as  to  position, 
but  to  remain  within  supporting  distance,  keeping  his  men  well 
in  hand,  and  to  act  as  circumstances  should  require.  The  march 
from  Spring  Hill  had  been  hurried,  and  the  tired  and  hungry 
men  very  naturally  appropriated  the  contents  of  sundry  cracker 


650  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

boxes  near  at  hand,  and  soon  the  inevitable  coffee  pot  was  swing 
ing  arid  simmering  over  impromptu  fires  blazing  up  along  the  line. 
During  much  of  the  afternoon,  Hood's  entire  army  was  in 
sight,  blackening  the  summits  of  the  hills,  and  apparently  form 
ing  for  an  attack.  At  four  o'clock,  a  living  wall  of  men  and 
glistening  steel  was  seen  marching  rapidly  down  the  hillsides — 
filling  the  valley  and  sweeping  across  the  fields.  Close  behind 
the  first  were  other  lines  of  troops  ;  the  whole  pouring  tumultu- 
ously  onward,  like  the  swift  current  of  a  river — bearing  its 
burthen  of  seething  waters  resistless  to  the  sea.  At  first  the 
confused  murmur  of  voices  and  martial  music,  like  sighing 
breezes,  filled  the  air,  and  as  the  tide  flowed  onward  the  swelling 
cadences  gathered  strength  and  volume.  At  the  near  approach 
of  the  crowding  host,  the  earth  grew  tremulous  beneath  the  tread 
of  many  feet,  and  sounded  like  the  low,  hollow  rumble  of  distant 
thunder.  Fascinated  by  the  sight,  the  men  gazed  in  silence 
upon  the  advancing  columns,  now  rapidly  approaching  the 
entrenchments  behind  which  stood  a  thin,  firm  line  of  Federal 
soldiers,  seemingly  unconscious  of  danger. 

The  brigades  of  Lane  and  Conrad,  occupying  the  shallow  rifle 
pits  in  the  advance,  for  a  moment  stood  their  ground,  and  at 
short  range  poured  destructive  volleys  into  the  crowded  ranks 
of  the  enemy.  Before  their  fire  the  first  line  faltered,  but  only 
for  a  moment,  when  closing  up,  they  rallied,  and  with  a  shout, 
cleared  every  obstacle,  charging  over  the  temporary  barricades. 
Then  for  another  moment  there  was  a  line  of  flashing  fire,  the 
sound  of  interlacing  bayonets,  and  the  gallant  Second  and  Third 
Brigades  went  down  before  the  swelling  tide  and  were  swept 
away.  Conrad's  Brigade  was  the  first  to  break.  The  older  and 
more  experienced  soldiers  fled  to  the  main  line,  but  a  regiment 
or  two  of  raw  troops,  composed  largely  of  conscripts,  seeing  the 


A    HAND-TO-HAND    ENCOUNTER.  651 

entrenchments  in  their  rear  wreathed  with  smoke  and  flame, 
imagined  themselves  caught  between  two  fires,  and  becoming 
bewildered,  threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered. 

Lane's  men  soon  followed,  arid  breathless  with  excitement 
went  flying  to  the  rear  in  tumultuous  confusion,  incited  thereto 
by  sharp  thrusts  from  Rebel  bayonets  in  the  rear,  skillfully 
wielded  by  a  legion  of  Hood's  most  experienced  veterans,  forcing 
them  back,  to  and  over  the  entrenchments,  where  numbers  halted, 
and  turning  upon  their  pursuers,  poured  a  volley  into  their 
ranks  which  no  more  served  to  break  the  momentum  of  the 
charge  than  so  many  pattering  rain  drops.  Onward  they  surged, 
and  swarming  over  the  works  scores  were  spitted  on  Federal 
bayonets  as  they  leaped  the  entrenchments.  Federals  and  Con 
federates  were  commingled  in  a  close  hand-to-hand  encounter. 
Numbers  finally  triumphed  over  valor,  and  all  who  were  left 
of  that  portion  of  the  23rd  Corps  stationed  in  the  works  for  a 
distance  of  three  hundred  yards  to  the  right  of  the  pike,  embrac 
ing  two  or  three  batteries,  broke  and  fled  with  the  fugitives 
from  the  two  brigades.  Artillerists  galloped  away  with  the 
caissons,  leaving  their  guns,  and  dashed  recklessly  through  the 
panic-stricken  throng  that  went  flying  towards  the  bridges,  leav 
ing  the  green  sward  behind  them  fitfully  strewed  with  dead  and 
wounded.  The  ground  was  literally  swept  with  sheets  of  fire 
and  lead,  and  the  air  was  full  of  shrieking  missiles. 

The  charge  and  rout  was  but  the  work  of  a  few  minutes.  The 
grand  panorama  of  battle  with  all  its  sickening  details  could  be 
traced  with  terrible  distinctness  by  the  men  of  the  First  Brig 
ade,  who  were  in  position  to  see  it  all.  Another  such  a  charge 
and  the  whole  line  of  works  would  be  swept  of  defenders,  and 
with  the  bridges  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  not  a  man  could 
escape.  Events  of  such  thrilling  interest  for  an  instant  struck 


652  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  beholders  dumb.  Only  for  an  instant,  however,  for  noble 
Opdyke  sprang  to  the  front,  and  waving  his  sword,  shouted,  "Up 
and  at  them,  men  !"  Just  at  that  moment  Gen.  Stanley  dashed  up 
to  the  left  of  the  line,  and  with  soul-stirring  enthusiasm  urging 
the  men  forward  to  the  rescue.  The  efforts  of  these  officers  were 
bravely  seconded  by  the  regimental  commanders,  and  <Col.  Olson's 
orders  rang  out  clear  as  the  blast  of  a  bugle,  "  Fall  in,  36th! 
Forward  to  the  trenches  !"  The  men  throwing  away  their  bread 
and  coifee,  sprang  to  their  arms,  and  grasping  their  muskets, 
charged  down  upon  the  foe  on  the  run. 

We  can  imagine  no  more  thrilling  episode,  than  when  these 
devoted  veterans,  with  heads  bent  to  the  storm  and  with  bayonets 
lowered  dashed  through  the  spray  of  balls,  and  with  cold  steel 
charged  home  upon  the  multitudinous  hosts  swarming  over  and 
within  the  ramparts.  They  had  scarcely  eaten  anything  for 
twelve  hours ;  they  had  marched  and  fought  all  the  previous  day, 
and  far  into  the  night ;  on  the  retreat,  as  rear  guard,  they  had 
ran  and  fought  incessantly,  until  from  hunger  and  fatigue  they 
were  haggard  and  weak.  Yet,  when  the  hurried  order  came  and 
the  color-bearer  stepped  to  the  front  and  held  aloft  the  old,  tat 
tered  banner,  the  noble  fellows  shouted  their  stirring  war  notes, 
and  on  the  double-quick  cheered  and  charged  upon  that  line  of 
fjre — right  into  the  very  jaws  of  death ;  and  as  the  enemy,  stung 
to  madness  at  the  terrible  onset,  hurled  line  upon  line  of  fresh 
troops  upon  them,  they  still  fought,  yielding  not  an  inch  until 
they  had  repelled  the  foe. 

The  officers  of  the  23rd  Corps  and  the  broken  fragments  of 
the  brigades  of  Lane  and  Conrad,  seeing  that  the  1st  Brigade 
was  holding  the  enemy  at  bay,  flung  themselves  across  the  track 
of  the  retreating  fugitives,  and  alternately  threatened  and  entreated 
their  men  to  rally  and  turn  back  to  the  support  of  Opdyke. 


RALLIED    BY   THE    36TH.  658 

Some  w  we  heard  to  say,  "  For  shame,  men!  Can't  you  follow 
where  the  36th  can  lead  ?"  Hastily  reforming,  they  rushed  down 
to  where  the  1st  Brigade  was  engaged,  firing  as  they  ran,  and 
co-operated  with  Opdyke  in  beating  the  exultant  enemy  back  and 
recovering  the  lost  position  and  guns.  Thank  God  the  enemy 
was  repulsed !  was  badly  beaten  and  forced  back  over  the  entrench 
ments  with  fearful  slaughter,  and  with  the  loss  of  four  hundred 
taken  prisoners. 

The  battle  did  not  cease  with  the  re-occupation  of  the  works. 
Wave  after  wave  of  their  reserves  coming  up,  poured  terrific  vol 
leys  into  our  lines,  and  a  continuous  shower  of  lead  and  iron 
whistled  fiercely  over  the  parapet.  If  but  a  head,  an  arm  or  a 
finger  protruded  above  the  works,  that  head,  arm  or  finger  was 
pretty  sure  to  be  perforated  with  shot.  Regular  volleys  could 
not  be  discerned.  It  was  an  incessant  crash  of  guns  that  was 
never  silent  for  a  moment.  Mingling  with  the  sharper  tones  of 
musketry  was  the  louder  explosions  of  artillery  in  a  continuous 
roar.  The  Federals  were  sheltered  behind  solid  embankments, 
while  the  enemy  stood  exposed  in  the  open  fields,  and  if  their 
fire  was  terrific,  ours  was  equally  so.  The  effect  of  shot  and 
shell  was  absolutely  awful.  Every  discharge  of  grape  and  can 
ister  marked  its  course  through  their  ranks  by  a  lane  of  fallen 
men.  The  distance  was  not  more  than  from  ten  to  one  hundred 
yards,  and  at  every  discharge  men  went  down. 

Col.  Olson  was  everywhere  among  his  men  with  words  of 
cheer  and  encouragement,  and  utterly  regardless  of  his  own  life 
and  safety.  Shortly  after  reaching  the  works  he  was  struck  by 
a  musket  ball,  which  entered  his  breast  and  passed  through  his 
body  in  the  region  of  the  heart.  He  fell  instantly,  but  in  fall 
ing  requested  Lieut  Hall,  of  Company  E,  to  take  him  to  the 
rear.  Assisted  by  Sergt.  Yarnell,  of  Company  G,  they  carried 


654  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

him  to  the  shelter  of  a  brick  house  standing  near  the  works,  when, 
perceiving  that  he  was  failing  fast,  the  Lieutenant  called  to  Capt. 
Biddulph  to  attend  to  the  regiment  as  the  Colonel's  wound  was 
mortal.  Yarn  ell  wrenched  a  window  shutter  from  the  house,  on 
which  the  bleeding  body  of  their  commander  was  placed  and  hur 
riedly  borne  to  the  rear,  while  musket  balls  and  cannon  shot  were 
striking  around  them  in  fearful  quantities. 

Reaching  the  river,  they  were  none  too  soon  to  secure  about 
the  last  vacant  place  in  an  ambulance,  in  which  he  was  tenderly 
placed  by  the  side  of  a  wounded  color-bearer.  Then,  taking  a 
last  look  of  their  dying  chief,  they  hurried  back  to  the  trenches, 
resumed  their  position  in  the  line,  and  fought  bravely  to  the  end. 
The  Colonel's  life  rapidly  ebbed  away,  and  in  a  half  unconscious 
state  he  feebly  whispered,  "Oh  help  me,  Lord!"  These  were 
his  last  words,  and  then  his  heart  was  still.  His  noble  spirit  had 
taken  its  flight  to  that  country  where  wars  and  battles  are  unknown. 
When  brave  Olson  fell,  a  cold  tremor  thrilled  along  the  line. 
At  any  other  time  than  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  and  under  a 
murderous  fire,  the  men  would  have  sat  down  and  cried  like  child 
ren  over  his  untimely  fate.  Brave,  generous,  earnest  and  faith 
ful,  none  had  stood  by  the  men  or  been  more  true  to  the  country 
than  he.  Always  present  in  the  perils  and  hardships  of  the 
36th,  he  had  shared  them  all  and  won  his  way  into  the  hearts 
and  affections  of  the  men,  making  a  record  of  glory  that  will 
never  be  closed  up  or  forgotten,  though  his  mangled  remains  may 
moulder  and  lay  hidden  from  sight  in  an  unknown  arid  unmarked 
grave.  The  name  of  PORTER  C.  OLSON  will  live  forever,  and  be 
handed  down  along  the  imperishable  ages,  indissolubly  linked 
with  the  fame  of  the  immortal  THIRTY-SIXTH. 

After  Col.  Olson  was  carried  back  in  a  dying  condition,  word 
was  passed  along  the  line  to  cease  firing.  None  appeared  to 


CHARGE   OF   THE   FIRST   BRIGADE.  655 

understand  from  whence  the  order  came.  Some  paid  no  attention 
to  it,  but  continued  to  load  and  fire  as  rapidly  as  possible,  while 
others  hesitated,  wondering  the  while  at  the  purpose  of  such 
orders,  while  the  enemy's  shot  poured  in  unceasingly.  Capt. 
Biddulph  could  scarcely  realize  that  his  superior  officers  were 
either  slain  or  disabled,  neither  could  he  understand  the  object  of 
the  suicidal  order  to  cease  firing  at  so  critical  a  period  of  the 
engagement.  Before  assuming  any  responsibility,  he  directed 
Adjt.  Case  to  go  to  Col.  Opdyke  for  further  orders,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  consult  his  brother  officers.  While  talking  with  Capt. 
Hemmingway,  near  the  corner  of  the  brick  house  which  afforded 
a  slight  obstruction  to  the  Rebel  volleys,  he  was  struck  in 
the  face  with  a  musket  ball,  which  buried  itself  in  his  head, 
destroyed  the  sight  of  his  left  eye,  and  prostrated  him  to  the 
earth.  He  was  immediately  carried  back,  and  being  unable  to 
gain  admittance  to  an  ambulance,  was  left  alone  to  care  for  him 
self.  Faint  and  bleeding,  with  the  assistance  of  a  wounded  com 
rade,  he  drifted  with  the  crowd  of  disabled  soldiers  towards  Nash 
ville  and  proceeded  two  miles  on  foot  before  reaching  a  field 
hospital. 

The  charge  of  the  1st  Brigade  was  not  entirely  successful  in 
regaining  the  whole  line  at  the  first  onset.  Their  numbers  were 
too  small  to  occupy  and  successfully  defend  a  position  which  a 
large  portion  of  the  23rd  Corps  had  been  obliged  to  abandon. 
A  small  salient  to  the  right  of  the  Columbia  pike  for  a  short  time 
was  held  by  the  enemy,  who  determined  to  use  it  as  an  entering 
wedge  through  which  to  break  the  Federal  line  and  recover  the 
works.  To  that  point  their  commanders  directed  their  most 
powerful  efforts,  and  the  head  of  a  Rebel  column  was  actually 
again  breaking  over  the  parapets  and  widening  the  breach,  when 
enfilading  volleys  from  either  side  was  directed  against  them,  and 


656  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

it  became  manifest  that  the  crowding  of  men  into  the  position 
under  a  cross  fire  so  deadly,  was  but  rushing  them  to  certain  death. 
But  they  fought  gallantly,  and  for  twenty  minutes  maintained 
the  unequal  contest  before  being  expelled  and  the  continuity  of 
the  line  established. 

A  prominent  feature  of  the  charge  and  final  expulsion  of  the 
enemy  from  the  works,  was  the  conspicuous  position  occupied  by 
the  regimental  flag  and  the  heroic  devotion  of  the  color-bearers. 
In  the  wild  dash  from  the  position  in  reserve  upon  the  forces 
thronging  into  the  entrenchments,  the  flag  of  the  36th,  ever  in 
the  front,  was  first  borne  by  Sergt.  William  R.  Toll,  of  Company 
C,  who  fell  severely  wounded  before  attaining  half  the  distance. 
Sergt.  Christ.  Zimmer,  of  Company  B,  snatching  the  flag  from 
the  grasp  of  his  wounded  comrade,  rushed  forward  with  it  to  the 
trenches  ;  but  while  passing  over  the  bullet-scathed  interval,  the 
staff  was  splintered  three  several  times,  while  its  precious  folds 
were  rent  in  tatters  by  scores  of  hissing  missiles.  Zimmer  was 
among  the  first  to  reach  the  works  with  the  flag,  and  in  the  brief 
hand-to-hand  encounter  and  carnage  that  succeeded,  held  it 
proudly  aloft,  waving  defiance  to  the  foe. 

Observing  the  imminent  danger  which  threatened  the  left  of 
the  line  from  the  Rebel  force  still  holding  a  portion  of  the  works, 
Zimmer  sprang  forward,  shouting,  "  Hurrah,  boys  ;  follow  the 
flag  to  the  left !"  The  inspiring  words  were  scarcely  uttered, 
when  three  bold  Rebel  soldiers  were  observed  upon  the  ramparts, 
aiming  at  the  color-bearer — the  muzzles  of  their  pieces  nearly 
touching  him  as  he  hurried  by.  There  was  a  crash — a  blinding 
sheet  of  fire,  and  Zimmer  fell,  his  bones  shattered  and  blood  pour 
ing  from  gaping  wounds.  He  was  immediately  taken  to  the  rear 
and  placed  in  an  ambulance,  and  it  was  by  his  side  that  Col.  Olson 
breathed  his  last. 


SEARS'  BRAVE  DEFENSE  OP  THE  FLAG.  657 

Charles  Sears,  of  Company  B,  was  the  next  custodian  of  the 
battle-scarred  relic,  and  right  gallantly  defended  his  sacred  trust, 
never  allowing  it  to  go  down  before  the  storm  fiercely  beating 
against  it.  Where  the  lines  were  pressed  the  hardest ;  where 
bullets  flew  the  thickest,  there  the  regimental  flag  flaunted  defiance 
to  .the  foe.  At  last  the  staff  was  shot  away,  but  seizing  the  shat 
tered  stump,  in  a  moment  more  the  red,  white  and  blue  was  wav 
ing  over  the  ramparts.  A  burly  Rebel,  reaching  over  the  works, 
seized  the  splintered  staff,  and  endeavored  to  wrench  it  from  the 
hands  of  its  bearer.  "No  you  don't !"  said  Sears  "  unless  you 
take  me  with  it,"  and  a  brief  contest  for  its  possession  ensued. 
A  shot  from  other  parties  came  to  Charlie's  aid,  and  he  retained 
possession  of  the  flag.  Then  cutting  the  remaining  fragments 
from  the  staff,  he  placed  them  in  his  bosom,  and  running  the 
gauntlet  of  fire,  for  some  distance  on  his  hands  and  knees,  brought 
what  remained  of  the  sacred  emblem  safely  from  the  field. 

Disappointed  and  enraged  at  the  dislodgement  of  his  forces 
from  the  works,  Gen.  Hood  organized  a  second  assault,  and  with 
unparalleled  recklessness  and  disregard  of  life,  again  and  again 
hurled  his  solid  columns  upon  the  entrenchments  and  against  the 
fire  of  equally  brave  men,  whose  pride,  patriotism,  and  physical 
and  mental  powers,  now  fully  aroused,  were  determined  to  hold 
their  position.  Before  their  fire,  rank  upon  rank  melted  away, 
only  to  be  succeeded  by  others,  more  frenzied  and  determined 
than  the  first,  and  they,  too,  went  down 

"  In  one  red  burial  blent," 

or  shattered  by  shot  were  sent  whirling  to  the  rear,  leaving  the 
ground  for  many  yards  in  front  of  the  works  literally  heaped 
with  dead  and  wounded. 

Gen.  Pat.  Cleburne,  one  of  the  most  dashing  and  fearless  sub 
ordinate  commanders  in  the  Confederate  army,  twice  lead  his 


658  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

division  to  the  foot  of  the  entrenchments  and  to  the  very  muzzles 
of  our  guns.  Mounted  on  a  white  horse  he  was  observed  every 
where  galloping  over  the  field,  directing  the  charge,  cheering  and 
animating  his  men,  a  conspicuous  object,  challenging  ourfireand 
exciting  admiration.  Heading  the  second  charge,  he  spurred  his 
horse  upon  the  works  just  to  the  left  of  the  36th.  The  forefeet 
of  his  steed  were  on  the  parapet,  in  the  act  of  leaping  over,  when 
both  horse  and  rider,  pierced  by  a  score  of  musket  balls,  fell 

"  Mustered  from  service  forever  !" 

The  daring  intrepidity  of  the  Confederate  General,  if  not  pru 
dent,  was  at  least  gallant,  and  elicited  expressions  of  commenda 
tion  from  the  most  inveterate  of  his  enemies. 

A  third  and  fourth  time  did  the  Confederate  officers  bravely 
lead  their  men  to  the  charge,  displaying  a  recklessness  and  gal 
lantry  in  keeping  with  the  boldness  and  determination  of  Opdyke 
and  his  heroic  First  Brigade.  Their  generals  straightened  them 
selves  in  their  saddles,  while  in  each  face  was  depicted  a  deter 
mination  never  to  quit  the  field  alive.  Field  and  staff  officers 
cheered,  encouraged  and  fairly  forced  their  men  up  to  the  works. 
How  any  of  them  survived  was  absolutely  wonderful.  Yet  in 
their  desperation  and  madness,  numbers  reached  the  parapet,  but 
all  attempts  at  storming  it  were  vain.  This  disastrous  game  could 
not  long  be  persisted  in,  and  soon  they  began  to  waver,  and  then 
retreated,  but  not  in  tumultuous  confusion  and  disorderly  rout. 

One  hundred  wagon  loads  of  ammunition  belonging  to  the 
4th  Corps  alone  were  expended.  The  air  was  still,  and  the 
smoke,  caused  by  the  burning  of  such  a  vast  amount  of  powder, 
drifting  lazily  in  the  air,  hung  like  a  funeral  pall  over  the  fearful 
drama  of  death,  which  under  its  sulphury  folds  was  being  enacted. 
The  sun  (which  at  this  season  sets  early)  went  down,  and  the 
gathering  darkness  lent  new  horrors  to  the  scene.  A.  spectator 


A    DESPERATE   DEFENSE.  659 

looking  upon  it  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  says,  "It 
seemed  like  a  sea  of  fire,  with  its  leaping  billows  of  flame,  reach 
ing  out  their  fiery  tongues  and  fitfully  flashing  upon  the  sky." 
The  guns,  foul  and  nearly  choked,  launched  a  spitting  fire  into 
the  darkness,  for  an  instant  lighting  up  the  gloom,  revealed  the 
smoked  and  powder-begrimmed  faces  of  the  men,  who,  haggard 
and  wan,  looked  like  hideous  spectres  evoked  from  the  regions  of 
despair.  At  unfrequent  lulls  in  the  firing,  the  groans  of  the 
wounded  and  shrieks  of  the  dying  came  wailing  out  upon  the 
damp,  night  air,  appalling  the  stoutest  hearts.  Death  in  all  its 
hideous  forms  everywhere  strewed  the  ground.  No  words  can 
fitly  express,  nor  painter's  art  overdraw  the  awful  terrors  of  that 
bloody  field. 

The  earth-works  were  from  three  to  five  feet  high,  and  on  them 
was  laid  a  head  log,  between  which  and  the  underlying  earth 
was  a  narrow  opening  through  which  the  infantry  fired.  The 
log  completely  hid  as  well  as  protected  the  heads  of  the  Federal 
troops,  and  while  the  Confederate  masses  were  in  full  view  and 
entirely  unprotected,  our  men  were  out  of  sight  and  danger, 
except  from  such  of  the  enemy  as  clung  to  the  outside  of  the 
ramparts,  and  used  the  opening  under  the  head  log  in  common 
with  our  men  to  fire  upon  those  within.  Throughout  the  action 
large  numbers  of  the  enemy  lay  close  under  the  entrenchments,  so 
that  the  works. which  sheltered  us  also  sheltered  them.  To  retreat 
under  a  fire  which  was  searching  out  every  square  foot  of  the  field  in 
front,  was  certain  death,  and  they  chose  to  remain  until  after 
dark,  when  many  voluntarily  surrendered  and  were  suffered  to 
come  over  into  our  lines.  Others  refusing  to  yield,  continued  to 
fire  through  the  opening,  and  many  were  the  hand-to-hand 
encounters  over  and  about  the  works.  The  crack  of  revolvers 
and  other  small  arms,  kept  up  after  the  main  contest  had  virtually 


660  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

ceased,  showed  the  temper  of  those  so  closely  confronting  each 
other. 

As  the  main  object  of  making  a  stand  at  Franklin  had  been 
accomplished  with  the  repulse  of  the  enemy,  holding  them  in 
check  until  the  trains  and  military  stores  were  removed  and 
placed  upon  the  road  to  Nashville  ;  now  that  the  unmolested 
retirement  of  the  army  to  that  point  was  secured,  and  no  possible 
benefits  to  be  gained  by  holding  the  place  longer,  the  movement 
upon  Nashville  was  resumed. 

The  next  problem  to  solve  was  the  safe  withdrawal  of  the 
troops  from  the  entrenchments  to  the  north  bank  of  the  Harpeth, 
which  commenced  as  soon  as  the  slackened  fire  of  the  enemy 
indicated  that  they  had  retired  from  our  immediate  front.  Gen. 
Hood  mistrusted  that  such  a  movement  would  be  made,  and 
remained  on  the  alert,  with  his  columns  in  readiness  to  spring 
upon  our  rear  and  embarrass,  if  not  prevent,  its  accomplishment. 
A  straggling  fire  at  long  range  was  kept  up,  more  for  the  pur 
pose  of  diverting,  and  to  discover,  if  possible,  what  was  going  on 
within  our  lines,  than  with  the  hope  of  working  disaster. 

The  artillery  was  first  taken  back,  the  wheels  being  wrapped 
with  blankets,  and  then  dragged  noiselessly  across  the  bridges 
and  planted  upon  the  heights  commanding  the  river  and  town, 
without  attracting  attention.  Then  the  flanks  were  withdrawn, 
and  when  well  under  way,  whispered  orders  passed  from  man  to 
man  along  the  line,  to  "  leave  the  works  at  midnight."  Opdyke's 
Brigade,  in  the  center,  was  held  the  longest,  and  the  86th  was 
the  last  to  quit  the  entrenchments  and  cross  the  bridges. 

While  this  movement  was  in  progress,  some  thoughtless  vaga 
bond  applied  a  match  to  a  vacant  house,  and  the  flames  spread 
ing,  lighted  up  the  surrounding  landscape  and  threatened  a  gen 
eral  conflagration,  rendering  it  difficult  for  bodies  of  troops  to 


A    FIRE    REVEALS    OUR    POSITION.  661 

move  without  being  seen.  An  old  fire  engine  was  found,  and 
under  the  personal  supervision  of  Gen.  Wood,  a  stream  of  water 
was  poured  upon  the  burning  building  and  the  flames  extinguished. 
The  fire  had,  however,  lighted  up  objects  sufficiently  to  discover 
the  movement  to  Gen.  Hood?  who  promptly  set  a  column  in  motion 
and  pressed  the  retiring  pickets  vigorously.  Gen.  Wood,  from 
chosen  positions  on  the  north  side,  covered  the  crossing  and  held 
the  Rebels  in  check  until  the  bridges  were  destroyed  by  the  rear 
guard.  Hood  brought  up  his  artillery  and  furiously  shelled  the 
position  held  by  Wood,  who,  however,  stood  firm  until  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  then  moved  leisurely  northward,  as  rear 
guard  to  the  Federal  army.  Hood  was  unable  to  cross  a  sufficient 
force  to  obstruct  the  march,  and  beyond  a  slight  skirmish  with  a 
detachment  of  Forest's  cavalry  at  Brentwood,  no  force  of  the 
enemy  was  encountered,  and  the  army  marched  quietly  to  Nash 
ville. 

We  have  abstained  from  mentioning  in  detail  the  part  taken 
in  this  engagement  by  the  larger  portion  of  the  23rd  Corps,  and  by 
Kimball's  Division  of  the  4th  Corps,  occupying  respectively  the 
extreme  right  and  left  of  our  line.  The  1st  Division,  upon  the 
right  was  securely  posted  behind  breastworks  of  considerable 
strength,  and  the  enemy's  fiercest  assaults  being  directed  against 
the  centre,  rendered  it  a  comparatively  easy  matter  to  maintain 
the  position.  No  direct  attack  was  made  upon  this  portion  of 
the  line,  and  Kimball's  efforts  were  mainly  directed  to  keeping 
up  an  enfilading  fire  upon  the  flank  of  the  attacking  columns. 
At  one  time  a  Confederate  brigade  attempted  to  move  obliquely 
across  the  field  in  front  of  Col.  Kirby's  Brigade.  One  volley 
was  sufficient  to  dissipate  this  force,  and  that  was  the  only  firing 
on  the  part  of  this  brigade.  In  the  charges  upon  our  centre, 
Rebel  detachments  were  frequently  thrown  in  front  of  the  left  of 


662  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  division,  but  a  few  rounds  of  grape  and  musketry  were  quite 
effectual  in  clearing  the  fields  and  driving  the  enemy  back  upon 
their  reserves. 

The  left  flank,  held  by  the  23rd  Corps,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Gen.  Cox,  though  fiercely  assailed,  was  somewhat 
out  of  the  line  of  the  main  Ilebel  assault,  but  by  maintaining  an 
oblique  fire  upon  the  flank  of  the  attacking  columns,  greatly 
aided  the  centre  in  holding  its  position,  and  inflicted  frightful 
losses  upon  the  enemy.  Both  Gens.  Kimball  and  Cox  mingled 
freely  in  the  thickest  of  the  conflict,  sharing  in  the  dangers  and 
uniting  their  efforts  with  others  in  .bringing  about  a  successful 
result. 

Of  the  intrepidity  of  Opdyke  and  the  gallant  1st  Brigade, 
more  than  a  passing  notice  should  be  given.  The  historian  of 
the  "Army  of  the  Cumberland"  has  well  said,  "With  regard  to 
the  second  prominent  feature  of  this  battle,  that  seldom  in  the 
history  of  the  war  has  a  single  brigade  made  itself  so  conspicu 
ous  in  saving  an  army."  And  again,  "When  he  dashed  on  the 
breach  he  gave  expression  to  the  courage  and  purpose  of  every 
man  in  that  self-appointed  forlorn  hope,  while  those  near  Gen. 
Stanley  shouted,  'We  can  go  \vhere  the  General  can.' ':  Opdyke 
rode  forward  until  he  reached  the  enemy,  followed  closely  by  his 
brigade.  He  first  emptied  his  revolver,  then  clubbed  it  in  the 
hand-to-hand  conflict,  and  as  the  deadly  struggle  raged  more 
fiercely,  he  dismounted  and  clubbed  a  musket.  His  men  fought 
as  did  their  leader,  and  with  bayonets  baptized  in  blood  they 
hurled  the  enemy  from  the  entrenchments  and  saved  the  army." 
Four  regimental  commanders  fell  in  this  charge,  but  other  officers 
of  similar  temper  maintained  the  leadership.  Col.  Opdyke 
escaped  injury.  Gen.  Stanley  also  escaped  for  a  time,  but  in 
leaving  this  brigade  to  look  after  others,  w?s  pierced  in  the  neck 
by  a  bullet  and  was  compelled  to  leave  the  field. 


THE    FEDERAL    LOSSES.  663 

A  few  yards  in  front  of  our  position  at  the  commencement  of 
the  action,  was  standing  a  small  clump  of  locust  trees,  ranging 
from  four  to  eight  inches  in  diameter.  These  were  literally 
mowed  down  by  musket  shot,  and  looked  as  though  riven  by 
lightning.  The  enemy  for  a  long  time  crowded  in  front  of  our 
position,  and  there  being  scarcely  a  lull  in  the  firing,  the  havoc 
wrought  in  their  ranks  must  have  been  great. 

In  the  charge  of  the  1st  Brigade  and  at  different  periods  in 
the  action,  we  captured  thirty-three  stands  of  colors.  Their 
guards  were  cut  down  by  scores,  and  falling  upon  their  flags 
drenched  them  with  their  life's  blood,  and  when  gathered  up  and 
taken  to  Nashville,  their  dripping  folds  attested  the  desperate 
nature  of  the  conflict,  of  the  cruelty  of  war  and  its  dreaded  hor 
rors.  We  also  captured  seven  hundred  and  two  prisoners,  while 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  of  their  dead  were  on  the 
field.  Nearly  every  building  in  the  place  was  filled  with  their 
wounded,  and  on  the  re-occupation  of  the  town  after  three  weeks 
had  elapsed,  three  thousand  eight  hundred  of  their  severely  dis 
abled  still  remained  in  hospital.  Their  known  losses  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners,  aggregated  six  thousand  two  hundred 
and  fifty,  including  thirteen  generals. 

The  Federal  losses  were  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  killed, 
one  thousand  and  thirty-three  wounded,  and  one  thousand  one 
hundred  arid  four  missing,  a  total  of  two  thousand  three  hundred 
and  twenty-six.  The  loss  of  the  4th  Corps  was  one  thousand 
three  hundred  and  sixty-eight,  nearly  all  from  Wagner's  Divis 
ion,  which  sustained  more  than  half  the  Federal  loss.  The  loss 
sustained  by  the  36th,  as  near  as  could  be  ascertained,  was  as 
follows : 

KILLED. 

Lieut.  Col  Porter  C.  Olson;  Sergt.  James  H.  Alston,  Co.  E;  Corp. 
Alfred  Torablin,  Co.  P;  Privates,  Robert  C.  Crawford,  Co.  D;  H.  D. 
H'ogue,  Co.  G,  and  Nicholas  Swickhart,  Co.  I, 


664  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

WOUNDED. 

Adjutant  Charles  F.  Case,  (since  dead). 

COMPANY  A. 

Sergt.  Geo.  L.  Peeler;  Corp.  Charles  Olsyeskie,  (since  dead)  ;  Corp.  0. 
D.  Shaw,  (since  dead). 

COMPANY    B. 

Sergt.  Chris.  Zimmer;  Sergt.  Henry  B.  Latham,  (since  dead);  John 
Keenan. 

COMPANY  c. 

Sergt.  Win.  R  Toll;  Sam.  A.  Markwell;  Ezekiel  Witniner,  (since 
dead);  James  Reuford;  Julius  C.  Wright;  Jasper  Connors;  Harvey  P. 
Dounell,  James  M.  Black. 

COMPANY    D. 

William  Kimler,  (since  dead) ;  Ichabod  Leigh,  (since  dead) ;  Edward 
Lars,  (since  dead) ;  David  M.  Patten ;  David  A.  Parkes. 

COMPANY  E. 

Sergt. Thomas  P.  Titlow;  Christ.  Battermau;  James  C.  Stokes;  Geo. 
W.  Lannigan  ;  Andrew  J.  Brannon. 

COMPANY    F. 

James  Perkins,  (since  dead) ;  Joseph  Markham ;  George  W.  Morgan. 

COMPANY    G. 

John  Smith;  Charles  Hapenstall,  (since  dead). 

COMPANY    H. 

Sergt.  Day  Elmore,  (since  dead);  Andrew  J.  Conroe;  Lillburn  B. 
Agnew;  Frederick  Shultz,  (since  dead);  David  Hartman  (since  dead). 

COMPANY    I. 

Abram  V.  Wormley;  Geo.  Smallberger;  Phillip  L.  Franz. 

COMPANY  K. 

Capt.  Geo.  G.  Biddulph;  Corp.  Daniel  P.  Hammond:  Daniel  Howard ; 
John  P.  Lenhart;  Geo.  M.  Scales;  Wm.  P.  McBride,  (since  dead). 

MISSING. 

R.  J.  Caldwell,  Henry  G.  Hodge,  Wm.  H.  Moss,  William  A.  Rogers, 
Abram  N.  Ammerman,  Thomas  Rugan,  Robert  Russell,  John  J.  Jordan, 
Thomas  Ridgeway,  Elias  Bartlett,  John  Nemyer,  Sergt.  J.  M.  Gordon, 
Hiram  Bogardus,  Edward  Smith,  John  Simons,  Phillip  Brocher. 

It  was  supposed  that  a  part  of  the  reported  missing  were  either 
killed  or  left  in  the  trenches,  fatally  wounded,  and  were  subse 
quently  buried  by  the  enemy,  and  thus  no  definite  knowledge  of 
their  fate  has  ever  been  obtained. 


COL.    PORTER    C.    OLSON.  665 

The  circumstances  attending  the  death   of  Lieut.  Col.  Olson 
have  already  been  related.      Porter  C.  Olson  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Manchester,  near  Niagara  Falls,  A.  D.,  1831.    His  father 
was  by  birth  a  Norwegian  and  his  mother  an  American  lady. 
The  family  removed  to  Newark,   in   Kendall  County,  Illinois, 
when  Porter  was  a  lad.      The  usual  advantages  derived  from 
country  schools  were  improved  by  him,  until  he  was  fitted  for  col 
lege,  and  he  subsequently  graduated  with  honor  from  Beloit  Col 
lege,  Wisconsin.     At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Kebellion,  he  was 
teaching  the  public   school  at  Lisbon ;  but  patriotism,  duty  and 
ambition  called  him  from  the  school-room  to  the  camp.    Through 
his  efforts,  a  company  was  recruited  at  Newark,  made  up  of  young 
men  from  that  locality  and  the  neighboring  town  of  Mission.    He 
was   elected  its   Captain,  and  his  company,  with  full  ranks,  was 
among  the  first  at  Camp  Hammond.     He  followed  the  fortunes  of 
the  regiment  in  its  tedious  marches ;  participated  in  all  its  fierce 
encounters,   down  to  the  fatal  field  at  Franklin.      Modest  and 
unassuming,  it  required  a  personal  acquaintance  to  fully  under 
stand  and  appreciate  the  many  excellencies   of  his   character. 
Next  to  the  lamented  Miller,  none  stood  higher  or  had  a  warmer 
place  in  the  affections  of  the  men  than  Lieut.  Col.  PORTER  C. 
OLSON. 

Another  serious  loss  to  the  regiment,  and  one  keenly  felt  and 
deplored  by  all,  was  the  wounding  and  subsequent  death  of  Adjt. 
Charles  F.  Case.  He  had  been  connected  with  the  regiment 
from  the  first,  had  served  in  the  ranks  as  a  private,  and  by  merito 
rious  conduct  and  superior  business  qualifications,  had  by  successive 
promotions  attained  the  rank  of  Adjutant.  While  moving  over 
the  field  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  he  was  struck  in  the  knee 
by  a  minnie  ball.  The  dangerous  character  of  the  wound  ren 
dered  amputation  necessary.  He  was  removed  to  Nashville,  an  <J 

43 


666  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

placed  in  the  old  College  Hospital.  Tie  never  rallied  from  the 
shock,  but  lingered  from  day  to  day  until  the  night  of  the  17th 
of  December,  after  the  battle  of  Nashville,  when  he  was  taken 
with  congestive  chills  and  all  hopes  of  his  recovery  were  blasted. 
Still  his  heroic  spirit  struggled  for  the  mastery  over  pain  and 
death  until  the  night  of  the  18th,  when  murmuring  the  words 
he  had  sung  for  dying  comrades  on  battle-fields  before, 

"  Oh  !  swing  low,  sweet  chariot, 
Oh  !  leave  me  not  behind," 

he  breathed  his  last.  No  words  can  befittingly  express  the  sor 
row  of  Company  I  when  informed  of  his  death.  They  had 
known  him  as  a  private  soldier  and  as  an  officer,  had  found  him 
possessed  of  a  great  heart,  of  manliness  and  high  soldierly 
qualities. 


CHAPTER   XLII. 


BATTLE  OF  NASHVILLE. 

'OOD'S  object  in  the  invasion  of  Tennessee  was 
outlined  in  the  general  orders  of  Beauregard, 
to  u  deal  rapid  and  vigorous  blows — to  strike 
the  enemy  while  dispersed,  and  by  that  distract 
Sherman's  advance  into  Georgia."  Hood  had 
pledged  his  troops  that  they  should  eat  their 
Christmas  dinners  in  Nashville;  and  to  redeem  that  pledge  and 
accomplish  the  declared  object  of  the  campaign  required  rapid 
movements.  Well  he  knew  that  to  allow  his  opponent  time  to 
concentrate  his  scattered  forces,  would  render  the  fulfillment  of 
his  pledges  difficult,  and  jeopardize  the  entire  campaign.  Hence 
the  rapidity  of  his  movements,  before  which  three  defensive  posi 
tions,  namely,  Pulaski,  Columbia  and  Franklin,  had  been  aband 
oned. 

It  was  Gen.  Thomas'  design  on  assuming  command,  to  make 
the  Tennessee  river  his  base  of  operations,  but  the  tardy  move 
ments  of  the  widely  scattered  detachments  comprising  his  com 
mand,  prevented  his  assuming  the  offensive  and  offering  battle  in 
the  heart  of  the  so-called  Confederacy.  The  three  veteran  divis 
ions  of  A.  J.  Smith  and  Winslow's  cavalry,  while  on  the  way  to 


668  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

join  him,  were  temporarily  diverted  to  Missouri  to  assist  in  the 
expulsion  of  Price.  Steedman  was  holding  the  Nashville  and 
Chattanooga  Railroad,  which  it  was  not  prudent  to  abandon  until 
the  enemy's  plans  were  developed  and  his  objective  point  known. 
The  4th  and  23rd  Corps,  under  Scofield,  were  to  the  front,  in 
the  vain  endeavor  to  check,  or  at  least  delay  the  advance  of  Hood. 

It  was  not  until  the  first  of  December  that  these  detachments 
were  concentrated  at  Nashville,  and  that  Gen.  Thomas  found  him 
self  at  the  head  of  an  army  sufficiently  numerous  to  assure  him  of 
victory.  His  cavalry  was  without  horses,  and  without  a  mounted 
force  equal  in  numbers  and  efficiency  to  that  of  Forest,  with 
which  to  follow  up  an  advantage,  a  victory  under  such  circum 
stances  would  have  been  barren  of  permanent  results.  Hence 
the  necessity  for  the  retreat  upon  Nashville  and  the  unavoidable 
delay  of  two  weeks  before  the  attack  was  made,  during  which 
time  Hood,  confronting  him  only  from  the  south,  was  deluded 
into  the  belief  that  the  city  of  Nashville  was  enduring  all  the 
rigors  of  a  siege. 

Gen.  Scofield's  column,  after  the  battle  of  Franklin,  proceeded 
to  Nashville  unmolested,  the  rear  guard  reaching  the  city  at  one 
o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  1st  of  December.  On  their 
arrival,  the  different  corps  were  assigned  to  positions  on  the  defen 
sive  line,  selected  by  Gen.  Thomas.  The  4th  Corps,  under  Gen. 
Wood,  (who  upon  the  wounding  and  retirement  of  Gen.  Stanley 
had  succeeded  to  the  command),  took  up  its  position  on  the  Hills- 
boro  and  Granny  White  pikes — the  key-point  and  center  of  the 
defensive  line.  Gen.  A.  G.  Smith  was  posted  on  the  right,  and 
Gen.  Scofield,  now  commanding  only  the  23rd  Corps,  occupied 
the  left.  Gen.  Steedman,  with  a  considerable  force,  distributed 
along  the  line  of  the  Nashville  &  Chattanooga  Railroad,  to  keep 
open  the  communications  and  guard  against  flank  movements, 


HOOD   ON   MONTGOMERY   HILL.  669 

was  ordered  to  the  general  rendezvous,  as  soon  as  it  was  rendered 
certain  that  Nashville  was  the  object  of  Hood's  attack.  His 
arrival  with  five  thousand  men,  on  the  evening  of  the  1st,  com 
pleted  the  concentration  of  forces  for  the  defense  of  the  city  and 
for  offensive  movements. 

Numerically,  Gen.  Thomas'  army  was  now  superior  to  Hood's — 
numbering  quite  fifty-five  thousand,  of  all  arms ;  composed  of 
detachments  from  almost  every  district,  department  and  military 
sub-division  known  in  the  west,  with  an  infusion  of  raw,  hun 
dred-day  infantry  regiments  and  colored  troops.  Deducting  the 
losses  sustained  in  the  engagement  at  Franklin,  Hood's  army  at 
this  time  numbered  not  far  from  forty  thousand. 

The  terrible  castigation  inflicted  upon  the  enemy  on  the  30th, 
induced  Gen.  Hood  to  proceed  with  more  caution  than  usual,  and 
it  was  not  until  the  3rd  of  December  that  his  infantry  appeared 
in  force  and  commenced  the  construction  of  a  line  of  works  along 
the  heights,  two  and  a-half  miles  south  of  the  city.  The  outer 
pickets  were  driven  in,  after  skirmishing  with  the  Rebel  advance, 
and  the  next  morning  the  southern  cross  was  discovered  waving 
from  the  summit  of  Montgomery  Hill,  within  six  hundred  yards 
of  the  Federal  position.  At  once,  from  Forts  Negley,  Morton, 
Confiscation  and  from  salient  points  in  Gen.  Wood's  front,  near 
est  the  enemy's  position,  an  artillery  fire  was  opened  upon  their 
works.  But,  intent  on  making  his  line  secure,  and  doubtless 
husbanding  his  ammunition,  the  enemy  continued  to  throw  up 
intrenchments,  and  responded  but  feebly  to  the  Federal  can 
nonade. 

After  the  completion  of  his  works,  Hood  remained  inactive  in 
his  position,  his  army  one  of  observation,  rather  than  invasion. 
But  his  cavalry  was  vigilant  and  untiring  in  its  demonstrations 
upon  the  posts  still  held  by  the  Federals,  above  and  below  the 


670  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

city,  and  upon  the  block-houses  along  the  line  of  the  Chattanooga 
Railroad. 

The  country,  unaware  of  the  insuperable  obstacles  to  an  imme 
diate  attack,  grew  restive  at  the  apparent  delay  of  Gen.  Thomas, 
and  clamored  for  his  removal.  Gen.  Grant  expressed  much 
uneasiness  in  regard  to  the  situation,  fearing  that  Hood  would  by 
a  flank  movement  cross  the  Cumberland,  march  into  Kentucky 
and  re-enact  the  Bragg  and  Bell  campaign  of  1862.  Such  AVUS 
his  anxiety  and  dissatisfaction  with  Thomas'  inaction,  that  he 
assented  to  his  removal  and  the  placing  of  Gen.  Scofield  in  com 
mand.  Conscious  of  doing  all  that  was  in  the  power  of  any  man 
in  a  like  situation  to  do,  and  of  the  rectitude  and  wisdom  of  his 
purposes,  he  was  not  to  be  driven  into  a  movement  against  his 
better  judgment,  or  forced  to  commence  offensive  operations  until 
such  time  as  his  preparations  were  in  a  state  to  assure  him  of 
success.  He  preferred  to  be  relieved,  rather  than  be  responsible 
for  the  results  of  a  battle  fought  under  unfavorable  conditions. 
Though  the  order  relieving  him  from  command  was  suspended, 
there  was  no  cessation  in  the  importunities,  urging  an  immediate 
attack,  and  of  positive  orders  to  move  without  delay. 

By  the  9th  of  December,  Gen.  Wilson  had  mounted  and  armed 
a  force  of  cavalry  sufficient  for  present  needs,  and  all  things 
essential  to  a  vigorous  campaign  were  in  readiness  and  an  attack 
was  determined  upon.  But  with  the  completion  of  his  prepara 
tions,  came  a  terrible  storm  of  rain  and  sleet,  which,  freezing  as 
it  fell,  covered  the  whole  country  with  a  sheet  of  ice,  upon  which 
horses  and  men  could  with  difficulty  stand,  much  less  advance  up 
steep  slopes  and  fight  to  any  advantage.  In  endeavoring  to  get 
the  cavalry  in  position,  many  horses  fell  upon  the  hard  and  slip 
pery  ice,  some  being  killed  and  others  permanently  disabled. 
The  same  cause  that  delayed  the  attack,  held  Hood  as  in  a  vice — 


CONCERNING   A    NEW    COMMANDER.  671 

ice-bound  on  the  storm-beaten  hills,  and  he  could  not,  if  he  would, 
escape  the  fate  that  awaited  him. 

Death  and  casualties  resulting  from   the  battle  of  Franklin 
wrought  many  changes  in  the  field  and  line   officers  of  the  4th 
Corps.       Gen.   Thomas  J.  Wood,  brave,  intrepid   and   prompt, 
commanded  the  Corps  after  the  wounding  of  Gen.  Stanley.     Gen. 
Wagner,  also  wounded  in  that  engagement,  for  some  time  per 
sisted  in  remaining  at  the  head  of  his   division,  but  was   at  last 
obliged  to  succumb,  and  proceeded  to  Louisville  for  medical  treat 
ment.     Brig.  Gen.  Elliott  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  2nd 
Division,  and  led  it  in  the  ensuing  campaign.     Not  a  field  officer 
was  left  with  the  36th,  and  Capt.  William  Mitchell,  of  Company 
A,  the  ranking  officer  present  for  duty,  acted  temporarily  as  reg 
imental  commander.     A  difference  arose  among  officers,  largely 
shared  in  by  the  men,  in  regard   to   who   was  justly  entitled   to 
the  command.     A  decided  preference  was  expressed  in  favor  of 
those  who  had  remained   with   the  boys,  who   had   shared   their 
hardships,  and  in  times  of  danger  had  remained  at   their   posts. 
Officers  with  commissions  antedating  the  latter,  whose  qualifica 
tions  for  detached  service  and  courts-martial   were  pre-eminent, 
the  duties  of  which  took  them  away  from  their  regiment  and  out 
of  gun  shot  of  the  enemy,  were  not  slow  in  pressing  their  claims. 
Others,  whose  dissolute  habits  disgraced  the  badges  they   wore, 
also  coveted  the  honor  of  commanding  the   36th.     To  such,  a 
decided  hostility  was  at  once  manifested.     To  avoid  complica 
tions  and  difficulty,  the  regimental  officers  generally  united  in  a 
written  request  to   Col.    Opdyke  to   detail   a  field   officer  from 
another  regiment  to  take   the  command   until    these   differences 
were  adjusted.     Accordingly  Major  L.  P.   Iloldon,  of  the   88th 
Illinois  Infantry,  was  assigned  to   the  command  until   the   pro 
motion   of  Capt.  George  W.    Mossman,  of  Company   F,  to    the 


672  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

vacant  Majority,  a  position  by  gallant  services  fairly  earned,  and 
one  eminently  satisfactory  to  the  regiment.  Sergeant  Major 
Warren  C.  Massey,  after  the  death  of  Adjt  Case,  was  promoted 
to  the  Adjutancy,  and  held  the  position  until  the  final  muster 
out  of  the  regiment. 

Picket  duty  at  Nashville  was  not  very  onerous,  and  the  men 
of  the  36th  remained  much  of  the  time  in  their  quarters,  shel 
tered  from  the  rude  winter  storms  that  howled  around.  Throw 
ing  up  entrenchments,  picket  duty,  cutting  wood,  standing  arpund 
the  fire  smoking  and  discussing  the  probability  of  a  "  brail  with 
the  Johnnies,"  were  matters  of  such  every  day  occurrence,  and 
so  barren  of  adventures,  that  the  journals  before  me  epitomize 
the  events  of  a  day  in  a  single  sentence.  An  extract  from  the 
journal  of  Silas  Dyer  is  an  index  of  the  whole.  It  is  as  follows: 
"  Was  on  picket  to-day  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy's  skir 
mishers,  and  although  there  was  some  firing  between  us,  no  one 
was  hurt  except  a  number  of  sheep  that  unwittingly  wandered 
in  range  of  our  guns."  It  is  fair  to  presume  from  the  well  known 
gastronomic  habits  of  the  boys,  they  did  not  allow  so  much  val 
uable  mutton  to  spoil. 

On  the  14th  the  weather  began  to  moderate,  and  by  noon  the 
ice  had  so  far  melted  as  to  be  no  longer  a  hinderance  to  army 
movements,  and  Gen.  Thomas  resolved  upon  attacking  the  next 
day,  for  which  immediate  preparations  were  made.  Gen.  Wil 
son  with  the  greater  portion  of  the  cavalry  was  sent  to  the  right 
of  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith,  to  guard  that  flank  and  assist  in  turning 
the  enemy's  position,  and  to  follow  up  any  advantage  that  might 
be  gained.  The  Corps  commanders  were  called  together  for  con 
sultation,  and  to  receive  final  instructions  regarding  the  specific 
movements  of  their  respective  commands.  The  general  outline 
of  the  plan  of  action  resolved  upon,  was  to  throw  a  sufficient 


ACTION  OP  THE  FIFTEENTH.  673 

force  upon  the  enemy's  left  and  front  to  carry  his  position.  At 
the  same  time  Gen.  Steedman  was  to  demonstrate  upon  their 
right,  to  attract  attention,  hold  their  forces  and  prevent,  as  far 
as  possible,  reinforcements  from  being  sent  to  the  left,  where  the 
principal  attack  was  to  be  made. 

At  daylight  on  the  15th  the  several  commands  began  to  move 
to  the  positions  assigned  them  by  the  orders  of  the  day  before. 
A  dense  fog  curtained  the  landscape,  hiding  the  two  armies  from 
each  other,  which,  with  the  undulations  of  the  ground,  concealed 
the  movements  of  the  national  troops  as  they  manoeuvred  for 
position.  The  troops  in  the  entrenchments  took  up  positions  in 
advance,  being  relieved  by  hundred-day  men,  quarter-master's 
employes  and  irregular  detachments,  organized  for  that  purpose, 
marched  from  the  city  under  Gens.  Cruft,  Miller  and  Donaldson, 
and  occupied  the  works.  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  advanced  his  divis 
ions  to  the  Harding  and  Charlotte  pikes,  skirmishing  heavily 
with  the  enemy's  outposts,  silencing  a  battery  and  menacing  his 
left.  The  23rd  Corps,  when  relieved  by  Gen.  Cruft,  moved 
rapidly  from  the  left  to  the  right,  taking  position  in  the  interval 
between  the  4th  Corps  and  Gen.  Smith's  command,  partially  in 
rear  and  in  support  of  each.  After  the  deployment  of  the 
infantry,  the  cavalry  under  Gen.  Wilson  at  once  assumed  posi 
tion  on  the  extreme  right,  reaching  out  and  lapping  around  the 
Rebel  left.  The  4th  Corps,  under  Gen.  Wood,  was  formed  in 
the  following  order  :  The  1st  Division  in  the  centre,  the  3rd 
Division  on  the  left,  and  the  2nd  Division  on  the  right,  in  double 
battle  line,  the  first  deployed,  while  the  second  held  in  reserve 
was  formed  in  column  by  divisions  opposite  the  intervals  in  the 
first.  In  front  was  a  cloud  of  skirmishers,  that  under  cover  of 
the  fog  advanced  near  to  and  in  point  blank  range  of  the  enemy's 
first  line,  keeping  up  a  close  fire  and  picking  oft'  those  that  showed 
themselves  above  the  works. 


674  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Great  was  the  astonishment  of  the  Confederates  upon  the 
clearing  up  of  the  fog,  at  seeing  long  blue  lines  of  Federal  troops 
drawn  up  in  battle  array  and  menacing  them  in  front  and  flank. 
At  frequent  intervals  along  the  line  batteries  were  in  position, 
occasionally  trying  the  effect  of  shot  at  long  range,  or  covering 
the  advance  of  skirmishers.  Ammunition  and  ambulance  trains 
were  snugly  sheltered  in  ravines.  The  work  of  storming  the 
hills  was  mainly  left  to  the  infantry,  who  near  at  hand  was  massed 
behind  hills  or  in  open  fields,  impatiently  waiting  the  opening  of 
a  conflict  that  in  its  effects  was  to  be  decisive  of  rebellion  in  the 
west.  The  enemy's  batteries,  which  during  the  twelve  days  of 
nominal  investment  had  been  quietly  perched  upon  the  hill  tops, 
pointing  toward  the  city  and  grimly  overlooking  the  intervening 
slopes,  until  now  voiceless  and  still,  suddenly  aroused  from  their 
lethargy,  and  the  roar  of  cannon,  like  the  sullen  bark  of  watch 
dogs  awoke  answering  echoes  from  hill  and  valley.  The  skir 
mishers,  concealed  from  sight  within  the  enveloping  folds  of  misty 
fog  curtains,  advanced  well  to  the  front,  and  established  them 
selves  in  close  proximity  to  the  Confederate  line.  From  logs, 
stumps  and  hillocks  they  poured  a  galling  fire  into  the  ranks  of 
their  opponents,  and  in  turn  received  the  concentrated  evidences 
of  Rebel  wrath,  in  the  form  of  grape-shot,  canister  and  musket 
balls. 

When  preparations  for  the  attack  were  completed,  and  troops 
in  position  to  assail  the  front  and  flank  of  the  enemy's  line,  Gen. 
Steedman  was  ordered  to  advance  against  Hood's  right,  in  sem 
blance  of  an  assault,  with  as  much  display  of  force  and  vigor  of 
movement  as  possible,  in  order  to  deceive  the  confederate  com 
mander  as  to  the  real  point  of  attack.  Gen.  Steedman  had  already 
organized  a  strong  column  for  this  purpose,  composed  of  detach 
ments  from  three  brigades,  including  a  large  number  of  colored 


A   GALLANT   CHARGE.  675 

troops,  who  for  the  first  time  in  the  west  were  to  compete  with 
white  soldiers  and  veterans  of  years  of  experience  and  dis 
cipline.  Prompt  to  the  order,  the  column  marched  out  and  swept 
gallantly  up  the  slope  of  a  hill  in  front,  on  the  summit  of  which 
the  enemy's  pickets  were  strongly  posted.  These  were  hurled 
from  their  position,  and  rushing  pell-mell  down  the  opposite 
declivity,  were  chased  to  cover  behind  a  line  of  works,  erected 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Chattanooga  Railroad.  With  one  bold 
dash  this  was  carried,  and  almost  before  the  enemy  was  aware  of 
the  movement,  the  works  were  in  our  hands.  This  advance  was 
made  in  the  face  of  a  heavy  fire,  with  scarcely  a  halt.  So  little 
reliance  had  been  placed  in  the  colored  soldiers'  ability  to  stand 
fire,  that  a  line  was  formed  in  reserve  with  bayonets  fixed,  for 
the  purpose  of  holding  them  to  their  work.  But  the  result 
proved  there  was  no  necessity  for  this,  as  the  negroes  were  not 
outdone  in  gallantry  and  steadiness,  and  no  body  of  regulars 
could  have  been  under  better  discipline,  or  easier  handled. 

After  capturing  the  works,  Gen.  Steedman  thought  to  change 
his  feint  to  a  real  attack,  and  proposed  to  hold  what  he  had 
gained.  It  was  only  on  this  flank  that  the  advance  of  the  enemy 
had  been  seriously  opposed,  and  resistance  offered  to  the  con 
struction  of  offensive  works.  The  spirited  advance  and  tenacity 
of  purpose  displayed  by  Steedman,  completely  deceived  the 
Rebel  commander  as  to  the  ultimate  purpose  of  his  adversary, 
and  he  drew  largely  from  his  center  and  left,  thereby  greatly 
weakening  the  force  that  was  to  meet  the  real  attack,  and  hur 
ried  re-inforceinents  to  his  right — the  point  threatened  by  Steed 
man — but  which  in  reality  was  only  a  diversion  to  attract  atten 
tion  from  combinations  forming  at  other  portions  of  the  line. 
Against  the  preponderating  numbers  now  hurled  against  him, 
the  exposure  to  enfilading  batteries,  stationed  on  the  surround- 


676  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

ing  hills  and  concentrated  upon  this  single  point,  rendering  it 
untenable,  Gen.  Steedraan  saw  that  the  position  could  not  be 
held,  and  withdrew  to  the  shelter  of  the  hill  in  front,  holding 
himself  in  readiness  to  execute  other  movements  in  carrying  out 
the  general  plan  of  operations.  The  object  of  this  first  demon 
stration  was  fully  accomplished,  for  the  continued  roar  of  guns 
away  to  the  right,  indicated  that  Scofield,  Smith  and  Wood  were 
launching  their  thunderbolts  and  directing  assaults  against  a 
weakened  adversary,  and  executing  to  the  letter  their  part  of  the 
grand  plan  so  minutely  set  forth  in  Gen.  Thomas'  orders. 

When  we  heard  the  heavy  booming  of  Steedman's  artillery  to 
the  left,  and  the  almost  instantaneous  response  of  Rebel  batter 
ies,  we  knew  that  the  time  for  action  had  arrived.  From  the 
position  of  the  36th,  on  a  high  swell  of  land,  contiguous  to  the 
Hillsboro  pike,  the  Federal  formation  could  be  traced  through 
out  much  of  its  extent.  The  position  of  the  skirmish  line,  well 
up  towards  the  Rebel  works,  was  indicated  by  little  smoke-puffs 
and  the  rattle  of  musketry.  Thousands  of  anxious  eyes  watched 
them  as  they  crouched  behind  trees,  or  lay  behind  logs  or  in  hol 
lows,  their  muskets  ever  ready  for  use,  if  but  the  smallest  patch 
of  Confederate  gray  was  exposed  to  view. 

Directly  in  front  of  the  4th  Corps  was  Montgomery  hill,  tow 
ering  a  hundred  feet  above  the  surrounding  hills,  a  position 
strong  by  nature,  fortified  and  strengthened  by  Hood  and  regarded 
as  the  principal  salient  in  the  enemy's  line.  The  ascent,  except  on 
the  left  and  rear,  was  rocky  and  precipitous,  and  covered  with  thick 
underbrush  and  forest  trees.  The  approaches  were  intersected 
by  abatis  and  sharpened  stakes  firmly  planted  in  the  ground. 
The  summit  bristled  with  cannon,  situated  so  as  to  enfilade  the 
approaches  and  cut  down  an  approaching  column.  Up  this 
ascent,  fronted  and  flanked  by  batteries,and'  these  supported  by 


TAKING    OF    MONTGOMERY    HILL.  677 

heavy  lines  of  infantry  must  move  the  storming  column.  It  was 
rightfully  conjectured  that  the  enemy  would  put  forth  his  heaviest 
efforts  to  retain  this  position.  During  the  formation  of  the 
assaulting  column,  the  summit  was  wreathed  in  smoke,  and  the 
deep  booming  of  heavy  guns  waved  defiance  and  poured  down  a 
continuous  tempest  of  shot  and  shell.  This  was  not  endured  on 
our  part  in  silence,  for  the  eager  gunners  having  sighted  their 
pieces,  the  very  earth  trembled  with  the  thunder  of  artillery  as 
the  guns  hurled  back  a  responsive  tempest  upon  their  position, 
to  divert,  if  possible,  their  fire  from  the  approaches  over  which 
our  charging  columns  must  advance. 

The  brigade  of  Col.  Post,  composed  of  heroes  worthy  of  the 
occasion,  was  selected  for  the  work,  and  swinging  around  to  the 
left  to  take  advantage  of  the  ascent,  they  dashed  up  the  hill  in 
the  face  of  iron  thunder-bolts  launched  Avith  merciless  skill  on 
their  devoted  heads.  Forward  was  the  word,  and  closing  the 
gaps  in  the  line  they  pushed  on  and  on,  up  and  over  the  entrench 
ments,  gaining  the  summit  of  Montgomery  Hill,  the  key-point 
of  the  enemy's  position.  It  was  a  perilous  achievement,  but 
grandly  executed. 

Having  secured  the  hill  and  Hood's  advance  line,  Gen.  Wood 
brought  forward  his  batteries,  advanced  his  skirmishers,  and 
made  preparations  for  carrying  the  second  line  of  works.  In 
the  long,  thin  skirmish  line  in  advance  of  the  4th  Corps,  were 
twenty-two  members  of  the  36th  with  Lieut.  Hall  at  their  head. 
They  had  gained  a  comparatively  sheltered  position  in  a  clump 
of  timber  not  far  from  a  three  gun  redoubt,  situated  in  a  pro 
jecting  angle  formed  by  a  heavy  stone  Avail,  Avhich  answered  the 
double  purpose  of  a  protection  to  the  battery  and  as  rifle-pits. 
When  from  appearances  it  was  judged  that  a  general  movement 
of  the  whole  line  had  commenced,  Hall  left  the  timber  an4 


678  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

advanced  his  little  detachment  along  the  Hillsboro  Pike  to  a 
position  at  the  right  of  the  projecting  salient,  where  the  enemy 
had  constructed  an  abatis  of  rails,  extending  across  the  road, 
which  had  been  used  as  a  picket  station.  He  was  in  plain  sight 
and  subjected  to  a  heavy  fire  at  short  range.  Abandoning  the 
road,  his  party  took  refuge  behind  the  wall  to  the  right  of  the 
pike,  and  under  its  cover  advanced  along  the  edge  of  a  field  some 
distance  beyond  the  Confederate  battery.  Smith's  charge  on  the 
right  was  throwing  the  enemy  into  confusion.  A  general  advance 
of  the  Federal  line  in  front  increased  their  excitement,  and  little 
squads  of  panic-stricken  Rebels  were  filtering  to  the  rear,  and 
fleeing  to  the  valley  to  the  left  of  the  projecting  salient.  All 
this  Lieut.  Hall  took  in  at  a  glance,  and  he  thus  briefly  addressed 
his  men  :  "  Now,  boys,  is  our  time !  I  believe  we  can  take  that 
battery.  The  Johnnies  are  already  more  than  half  whipped. 
How  many  of  you  are  ready  to  go  in  ?"  Not  a  man  hesitated  ! 
In  one  solid  body  they  rushed  across  the  pike,  scaled  the  wall  in 
rear  of  the  guns,  and  in  not  the  mildest  terms  or  the  politest 
language,  the  surrender  of  the  battery  was  demanded.  Without 
the  firing  of  a  gun  or  the  slightest  manifestation  of  resistance, 
the  Rebels  threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered.  The  battery 
was  supported  by  the  20th  Alabama  Regiment,  arid  its  com 
mander  delivered  his  sword  to  Lieut.  Hall,  who  retained  posses 
sion  of  it  and  has  it  now,  a  highly  prized  trophy  of  his  intre 
pidity  and  daring.  Private  Case,  of  Company  E,  secured  the 
regimental  flag,  one  of  the  finest  in  Hood's  army.  Intrusting 
it  to  a  discharged  soldier  and  former  comrade  for  safe  keeping, 
it  was  lost  and  no  trace  of  it  has  since  been  obtained. 

This  brilliant  dash  resulted  in  the  capture  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  prisoners,  with  their  arms,  besides  the  battery  of  three 
brass  field  pieces,  with  their  caissons  and  ammunition.  A  man 


HALL   BOSSES   THE   JOB.  670 

was  placed  over  each  gun,  with  instructions  to  hold  them  until 
they  could  be  turned  over  and  receipted  for  by  the  division  com 
mander  or  his  representative.  Meanwhile,  the  4th  Corps  had 
reached  the  enemy's  lines  and  stormed  various  portions  of  their 
works.  A  staff  officer,  of  the  rank  of  2nd  Lieutenant,  attached 
to  the  3rd  Division,  entered  the  redoubt  and  bruskly  demanded 
the  guns.  u  Not  by  a  d— d  sight,"  promptly  responded  Hall. 
"I  am  a  staif  officer,  sir,"  was  the  lofty  reply,  uand  you  men 
had  better  be  careful  what  you  do."  To  this  menace,  Hall 
replied,  "  I  am  a  Lieutenant,  sir,  and  bossing  this  job,  and  if  you 
lay  your  hands  upon  these  guns  to  take  possession,  I'll  cleave 
you  to  the  earth.  To  the  2nd  Division  belongs  the  honor  of 
their  capture,  and  to  Gen.  Elliott  alone  will  I  deliver  them." 
Hall  had  been  upon  the  picket  line  during  the  day  arid  all  the 
preceding  night.  In  reaching  the  Confederate  position  he  had 
forced  his  way  through  tangled  thickets  arid  briar  patches  ;  had 
crawled  through  the  mud ;  a  bullet  had  carried  away  a  portion 
of  his  hat,  through  which  his  disheveled  hair  protruded  ;  his 
clothes  were  badly  torn  ;  his  face  begrimed  with  powder  and  dirt, 
and  altogether  he  was  a  sight  to  behold.  With  little  about  him 
but  his  indomitable  pluck  to  prepossess  one  in  his  favor,  no  won 
der  the  staff  officer  was  deceived  as  to  the  rank  of  the  person  he 
so  unceremoniously  accosted,  whose  prompt  reply  and  readiness 
to  support  his  claim  to  the  guns  by  arguments  more  potent  than 
words  did  not  admit  of  further  controversy.  S.  G.  Dyer,  E.  S.  Case 
and  one  other,  whose  name  has  been  forgotten,  remained  with  the 
guns  until  Gen.  Elliott  came  up,  and  to  him  they  were  delivered 
and  his  receipt  taken  for  them.  In  the  general  advance,  A.  J. 
Smith's  left  flank  became  involved  with  Gen.  Wood's  right,  and 
some  of  Smith's  troops  entering  the  redoubt  soon  after  its  cap 
ture,  conflicting  claims  as  to  the  honor  and  fruits  of  victory  arose. 


680  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

But  abundant  evidence  as  to  whom  the  honor  of  this  brilliant 
achievement  rightfully  belongs,  is  not  wanting,  and  the  truth  of 
the  statement  here  made  must  forever  remain  unchallenged. 

In  a  line  of  battle  miles  in  extent,  composed  of  separate  divi 
sions  and  army  corps,  the  movement  and  details  cannot  be  taken 
in  from  a  single  stand  point,  and  the  Battle  of  Nashville  was  not 
an  exception. 

The  booming  of  Steedman's  guns  on  the  extreme  left  was  the 
signal  for  A.  J.  Smith  to  commence  the  initiative  of  battle  on 
the  right.  His  division  moved  rapidly  behind  its  skirmishers, 
upon  the  Harding  and  Hillsboro  pikes,  gradually  wheeling  to 
the  left,  until  his  line  was  parallel  to,  and  in  advance  of,  the 
Hardin  road. 

The  converging  lines  of  advance  brought  the  wings  of  A.  J. 
Smith  and  the  4th  Corps  together,  and  the  interval  being  closed, 
Gen.  Scofield  rapidly  passed  in  rear  of  A.  J.  Smith  with  the 
23rd  Corps,  and  forming  on  his  right,  moved  in  conjunction  with 
it  against  the  enemy's  left.  A  number  of  minor  positions,  situ 
ated  on  a  group  of  hills  near  the  Hillsboro  pike,  were  carried 
after  slight  opposition,  and  the  enemy  driven,  with  loss  of  pris 
oners,  across  the  road  and  the  valley  beyond,  to  a  second  range 
of  hills  overlooking  the  Granny  White  pike.  The  Confederate 
commander  having  partially  recovered  from  his  surprise,  collected 
a  heavy  force  with  which  to  deal  a  counter  blow,  or  at  least  check 
the  sweeping  charges  which  Smith,  Scofield  and  Wilson  was  hurl 
ing  upon  his  left. 

One  of  Scofield's  brigades,  under  Gen.  Cooper,  crossed  the 
valley  and  commenced  the  ascent  of  the  hills,  when  a  heavy  force 
coming  up  from  the  left  appeared  in  his  rear,  and  there  was  dan 
ger  of  the  brigade  being  crushed  between  two  opposing  forces, 
but  Gens.  Cox  and  Couch  promptly  advanced  against  the  latter, 


MOVEMENT    OF   FOUKTH    CORPS.  681 

giving  them  sufficient  occupation  in  warding  off  their  blows,  as 
to  divert  attention  from  Cooper  and  his  brigade,  which  was  in  no 
wise  endangered,  but  gallantly  executed  the  movement  it  had 
commenced,  and  carried  the  left  of  a  series  of  hills  overlooking 
and  commanding  the  Granny  White  pike.  In  the  valley  the 
resistance  was  obstinate,  and  a  furious  engagement  continued 
until  dark,  attended  with  considerable  loss  on  both  sides.  The 
enemy  eventually  was  forced  to  retire,  and  occupied  the  hills 
extending  south  from  the  position  occupied  by  Cooper.  Dark 
ness  put  an  end  to  further  movements  in  this  quarter,  and  after 
entrenching  the  positions  gained,  the  troops  bivouaced  for  the 
night. 

The  4th  Corps  moved  simultaneously  with  Gen.  Smith  against 
the  second  line  of  works,  in  rear  of  Montgomery  Hill.  The 
reserves  were  brought  up  and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  with  the 
intention  of  engaging  the  enemy  with  the  entire  corps.  In  front 
of  Gen.  Kimball's  Division  was  an  elevation  strongly  forti 
fied.  The  fire  of  Wood's  batteries  was  concentrated  upon  this 
hill  for  an  hour,  during  which  time  Smith  and  Wilson  were 
assailing  the  enemy's  left,  crushing  their  lines  and  capturing  one 
after  another  of  their  salients  and  batteries.  All  being  in  readi 
ness,  the  order  to  charge  was  given,  and  swiftly  the  column 
moved  to  its  appointed  task.  Scarcely  had  it  started,  when 
word  was  given  to  double-quick.  Cheer  upon  cheer  swelled  up 
from  the  ranks  ;  the  fatigues  of  last  night's  anxious  watching ; 
the  strain  upon  the  mind  and  muscle,  incident  to  the  excitement 
of  the  occasion  were  forgotten,  and  Kimball's  whole  division, 
with  an  impetuosity  which  nothing  could  check,  ascended  the 
hill,  stormed  the  ramparts,  and  captured  colors,  cannon  and 
prisoners.  There  was  no  pause  from  the  commencement  of  the 
charge  until  its  brilliant  and  successful  termination. 

44 


682  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

At  the  same  time  Gen.  Elliott  carried  the  entrenchments  in 
his  front ;  captured  hundreds  of  prisoners,  and  swept  the  terror- 
stricken  Confederates  in  disorderly  rout  before  him.  In  this 
general  advance,  the  right  of  the  2nd  Division  of  the  4th  Corps 
became  commingled  with  the  left  of  A.  J.  Smith,  and  shortly 
after  its  surrender  to  Lieut.  Hall,  numbers  of  Gen.  Smith's  troops 
entered  the  redoubt  at  the  point  of  contact  between  the  two  corps, 
and  hence  the  conflicting  claims  to  the  honor  and  results  of  that 
achievement. 

After  gaining  complete  possession  of  the  enemy's  line,  Gen. 
Wood  was  ordered  to  the  Franklin  pike,  two  miles  distant,  and 
both  skirmishers  and  reserves  pushed  on,  the  remnants  of  Con 
federate  organizations  retreating  in  disorder  before  them,  making 
scarcely  a  show  of  resistance  to  the  Federal  advance.  The  ground 
was  cumbered  with  arms  and  military  equipments,  thrown  away  in 
their  hurried  flight.  Night  came  on  before  the  corps  had  reached 
its  destination.  The  fighting  for  the  day  was  over,  and  the  tired 
soldiers,  having  fought  bravely,  halted  on  ground  wrested  from 
the  enemy,  and  warmed  themselves  by  their  abandoned  camp- 
fires.  Hungry  and  fatigued,  without  tents,  overcoats  or  blankets, 
they  lay  upon  their  arms  on  the  damp,  cold  ground,  and  shivered 
the  long  night  through.  A  scanty  meal  was  brought  up  from  the 
rear,  but  not  half  enough  in  quantity  to  satisfy  the  knawings  of 
hunger,  resulting  from  an  eighteen-hour  fast. 

On  the  extreme  left,  permanent  advantages  were  gained,  sub 
sequent  to  the  feint  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  day.  The  works 
contiguous  to  the  Murfreesboro  and  Nolansville  pikes  were  car 
ried  and  firmly  held,  and  the  Rebel  right  kept  in  constant  fear  of 
an  attack  in  force.  In  these  achievements,  the  colored  troops 
took  a  prominent  part,  endured  the  fatigues  and  shared  the  suc 
cesses  equally  with  the  whites. 


LINCOLN  CONVEY'S  THANKS.  683 

During  the  day,  the  first  and  second  lines  of  defense  were  cap 
tured;  the  enemy  forced  back  more  than  two  miles  to  the  base  of 
the  Overtoil  and  Harpeth  Hills,  his  left  turned  and  one  of  his 
two  lines  of  retreat  threatened.  Seventeen  pieces  of  artillery 
were  captured ;  more  than  two  thousand  prisoners  sent  to  the 
rear,  and  thousands  of  small  arms  given  up  or  thrown  away.  The 
whole  Federal  army,  elated  with  the  success  of  the  day,  and  con 
fident  of  a  complete  victory  on  the  morrow,  bivouacked  on  the 
field  they  had  so  gallantly  won. 

News  of  these  splendid  successes  sped  over  the  country  on  the 
swift  wings  of  lightning,  and  the  joy  of  the  people  was  unbounded. 
President  Lincoln  telegraphed  his  satisfaction  at  the  result  to 
Gen.  Thomas  and  his  brave  army  as  follows : 

Please  accept  for  yourself,  officers  and  men,  the  Nation's  thanks 
for  your  work  of  yesterday.  You  made  a  magnificent  beginning. 
A  grand  consummation  is  within  your  reach.  Do  not  let  it  slip. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

Gen.  Grant,  Secretary  Stanton,  and  men  high  in  civil  and 
military  authority,  showered  their  congratulations,  while  the  firing 
of  cannon  in  every  city  and  village,  testified  the  general  joy  over 
the  result.  The  army  had  never  wavered  in  its  devotion  to  Gen. 
Thomas.  It  had  not  felt  nor  expressed  any  uneasiness,  and  now 
looked  forward  with  calm  assurance  of  a  decisive  result  on  the 
morrow— a  consummation  which  it  had  never  for  a  moment 
doubted  during  all  the  days  of  delay,  and  in  subsequent  move 
ments  they  felt  as  if  the  eyes  of  the  nation  and  the  world  were 
upon  them. 

One  result,  so  disastrous  in  other  respects  to  the  enemy,  was 
his  ejectment  from  all  his  carefully  selected  and  strongly  fortified 
positions.  His  lines  of  retreat  were  also  seriously  threatened, 
and  in  order  to  keep  open  the  latter  and  maintain  a  semblance  of 
resistance,  new  positions  were  selected,  and  during  the  night  his 


684  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

centre  and  right  fell  back  to  the  new  line.  His  right  rested  on 
the  Ovcrton  Hills,  covering  the  Franklin  pike,  his  left  remained 
on  the  Brentwood  range,  near  the  Granny  White  road,  in  the 
position  held  at  the  close  of  the  day.  His  line  was  contracted, 
his  troops  massed  in  close  order  along  the  base  and  on  the  slopes 
of  the  hills,  and  his  artillery  planted  at  points  most  available  for 
effective  use.  During  the  night  Hood's  army  was  busy  fortify 
ing  and  strengthening  this  new  position.  In  front  of  his  picket 
line  large  trees  were  felled,  brush  piled  and  obstructions  of  every 
kind  interposed  against  the  Federal  advance.  A  quarter  of  a 
mile  in  rear  of  these  temporary  barricades  their  main  line  was 
posted,  earth-works  thrown  up  and  a  stone  fence  improvised  as  a 
means  of  defense.  They  were  still  busy  with  pick-axe  and  spade 
when  daylight  revealed  their  new  position.  Orders  were  given 
to  advance  rapidly  at  six  o'clock  A.  M.,  not  to  desist  in  the  assault 
should  the  enemy  stand  and  accept  battle,  and  not  to  linger  in 
the  pursuit  should  they  retreat. 

At  the  very  outset  our  skirmishers  found  themselves  confronted 
by  a  strong  picket  line  securely  posted  behind  the  barricade,  and 
they  knew  it  to  be  a  hazardous  undertaking  to  carry  a  position 
both  naturally  and  artificially  strong,  but  by  a  common  impulse 
without  orders  they  moved  upon  that  treacherous  line  of  fallen 
trees,  behind  which  lay  hundreds  of  Confederate  marksmen. 
Fired  by  a  common  enthusiasm,  lifted  on  a  wave  of  common 
excitement,  they  rushed  forward  in  the  desperate  charge.  Anx 
ious  thousands  in  reserve  were  watching  them,  when  suddenly  a 
line  of  fire  fringed  the  barricade,  and  volley  after  volley  was 
poured  upon  the  advancing  line.  Some  were  wounded,  and  limp 
ing  painfully  back  were  carried  on  stretchers  to  the  hospital  tents 
already  pitched  behind  sheltering  elevations  out  of  range  of 
Rebel  cannon.  Some  were  killed  outright  and  left  upon  the  field. 


MOSSMAN'S  GALLANT  ACTION. 

their  cold,  blank  eyes  gazing  fixedly  up  into  the  azure  heavens. 
Others  filled  their  places,  and  with  cheering,  rushed  up  the  ascent, 
and  charging  with  cold  steel  upon  the  barricades,  finally  drove 
every  Rebel  out  of  his  hiding  place.  Then  one  long  cheer 
relieved  the  pent  up  excitement  of  the  reserves,  and  was  wafted 
to  the  front  as  a  testimonial  of  gratitude  for  the  work  they  had 
performed. 

Among  those  of  the  36th  who  had  pushed  their  way   to  the 
front    were  Joseph  Scofield  and  M.  Gr.  Yarnell,  of  Co.  G,  who 
took  position  behind  a  fallen  tree.     Though  receiving  marked 
attention  from  Rebel  batteries   and  marksmen   in  front,  yet  by 
closely  hugging  the  opposite  side  of  the  friendly   log,  they  felt 
themselves  tolerably  secure.     But  a  grape  shot  passing  under  it 
and  through  the  accumulated  rubbish,  struck  Scofield  in  the  hip, 
inflicting  a  dangerous,  and  what  at  the  time  was  supposed  to  be 
a  mortal  wound.     Handing  his  trinkets  and  money  to  Yarnell, 
and  giving  directions  in  regard   to  their  disposition  in   case   he 
should  not  survive,  he  begged  to  be  taken  to  the  rear.     Bullets 
were  hissing  like  serpents  in  the  air  and  smiting  the  earth  as 
thickly  as  falling  hailstones  in  a  storm.     The  surroundings  were 
neither  safe  nor  pleasant,  but  knowing  that  his   comrade  must 
have  immediate  attention  or  bleed  to  death,  Yarnell  ran  to  the 
rear  in  the  midst  of  flying  shot  that  perforated  his  blanket  and 
clothes,  and  somehow  reached  the  reserve  unharmed.     On  learn 
ing  the  critical  condition  of  Scofield,  Capt.  Mossmari,  of  Co.  F, 
with  as  unselfish  devotion  as  ever  animated  human  being,  with 
out  waiting  for  a  lull  in  the  firing,  unmindful  of  everything  but 
the  sufferings  of  a  wounded  comrade,  rushed  across   the  bullet 
swept   interval,  and  taking   Scofield  in   his  arms,  brought  him 
safely  from  the  front.     No  one  expected  to  see  him  face  that 
storm  and  return  alive.     A  sigh  of  relief  and  murmur  of  applause 


686  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

involuntarily  ran  along  the  lines  as  he  returned  unharmed. 
Such  acts  of  individual  heroism  ultimately  have  their  reward, 
and  when  at  a  later  period  a  Major's  leaves  decked  his  manly 
shoulders,  the  soldiers  he  commanded  felt  they  had  been  honora 
bly  won. 

The  account  of  the  second  day's  operations  before  Nashville 
has  been  more  graphically  written,  its  prominent  features  more 
faithfully  brought  out  by  the  historian  of  the  "  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,"  than  anything  we  may  write  in  regard  to  it,  and 
assuming  all  the  responsibility  resulting  from  the  crime  of  liter 
ary  piracy,  we  shall  copy  such  portions  of  the  narrative  relating 
to  the  closing  scenes  of  the  Battle  of  Nashville  as  suits  our  pur 
pose,  making  such  additions  and  inserting  such  items  of  personal 
history  as  have  come  to  hand. 

"  The  4th  Corps  advanced  promptly  as  ordered  toward  the 
Franklin  road.  Here  the  Corps  was  deployed,  Elliott's  Division 
across  the  road  facing  southward,  Beatty's  on  the  left,  Kim- 
ball's  in  reserve  behind  Elliott,  and  then  it  advanced  rapidly. 
Simultaneously  with  the  movement  of  the  4th  Corps,  Gen.  Steed- 
man  advanced  on  the  left  and  Gen.  Smith  on  the  right.  The 
former  soon  found  that  the  enemy  had  left  his  front,  and  press 
ing  forward,  took  position  between  the  Nolansville  turnpike  and 
Gen.  Wood's  left,  his  own  right  resting  on  the  railroad  and  his 
left  on  the  Nolansville  road.  To  cover  his  rear  against  dashes  of 
cavalry,  he  ordered  Mitchell's  brigade  of  Craft's  Division  from 
the  defenses,  to  occupy  Riddle's  hill.  Gen.  Smith  advanced  with 
two  divisions,  Girard's  and  McArthur's,  going  into  position  under 
the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  about  eight  hundred  yards  from 
his  main  line.  The  23rd  Corps  was  at  right  angles  with  this  his 
new  offensive  line  facing  eastward.  Gen.  Smith's  right  was  oppo 
site  very  strong  intrenchments  of  the  enemy,  in  fact,  was  at  the 


SECOND   DAY    BEFORE    NASHVILLE.  687 

base  of  the  hill  upon  which  they  rested.  He  simply  held  posi 
tion  until  one  P.  M.,  waiting  for  Gen.  Scofield,  who  was  to  take 
the  initiative  against  Hood's  left.  There  being  an  interval  between 
his  left  and  Gen.  Wood's  right,  the  latter  threw  into  it  Kimball's 
Division,  and  completed  the  continuous  alignment  of  the  infantry 
from  left  to  right.  In  the  meantime,  the  artillery  from  all  parts 
of  the  line  kept  up  a  measured  fire,  and  even  muskets  were  used 
freely  to  induce  the  enemy  to  expend  his  limited  ammunition." 

"  The  Brentwood  Hills,  rising  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  above  the  general  level  of  the  country,  consist  of  two  ranges, 
terminating  on  opposite  sides  of  Brentwood  pass,  through  which 
the  road  to  Franklin  courses,  and  situated  about  nine  miles  from 
Nashville.  These  hills  were  the  background  of  Gen.  Hood's 
army.  His  line  of  battle  coursed  over  the  detached  hills  in  front, 
covered  in  great  part  by  native  forests.  Overton  Hill  commanded 
the  Franklin  turnpike,  running  along  its  base,  and  was  intrenched 
around  its  northern  slope,  half-way  from  base  to  summit,  with  a 
flank  running  around  its  eastern  descent,  while  the  approaches 
were  obstructed  by  abatis.  This  position  was  exceedingly  strong, 
and  the  troops  holding  it  were  heavily  re-inforced  during  the  fore 
noon." 

Little  progress  could  be  made  while  this  point  was  held,  and 
an  effort  was  made  for  its  possession.  The  position  was  recon- 
noitered,  and  the  northern  slope  decided  to  be  the  most  feasible 
for  an  assault.  Col.  Post's  Brigade,  supported  by  Col.  Streight, 
was  selected  to  lead  off,  and  Gen.  Steedman  dispatched  two  bri 
gades  of  colored  troops  to  co-operate  in  the  assault.  At  three 
p.  M.,  the  columns  moved  up  the  steep  ascent,  under  cover  of  the 
batteries,  which  formed  a  convergent  fire  upon  the  enemy's  posi 
tion,  that  was  continued  as  long  as  it  could  be  done  with  safety  to 
the  advancing  troops.  The  second  division  was  held  in  reserve, 


688  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

and  the  eyes  of  every  man  in  it  were  riveted  upon  the  long,  black 
lines — moving  in  solid  columns,  and  then  deploying  in  line — 
advancing  steadily  towards  the  enemy's  works,  frowning  above 
them,  preceded  by  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers,  to  draw  their  fire 
and  annoy  their  gunners.  The  troops  had  nearly  reached  the 
position  ;  the  movement  promised  success,  and  the  reserves  were 
beginning  to  breathe  more  freely.  The  leading  men  in  each  col 
umn  reached  the  parapet  and  a  few  had  gained  the  works,  when 
suddenly  a  tempest  of  artillery  and  musketry  broke  upon  them. 
So  close  and  deadly  was  the  fire,  as  to  cause  our  brave  boys  to 
waver,  and  as  the  storm  continued,  they  broke  and  fled  to  the 
rear,  with  heavy  loss.  The  survivors,  bleeding  but  not  disheart 
ened,  reformed  at  the  base  of  the  hill,  in  readiness  for  another 
assault,  but  under  another  leader,  as  Col.  Post  was  severely 
wounded  and  unable  to  lead  his  brigade. 

Again  we  copy  from  Van  Home's  History — an  unfailing  resource 
when  the  material  furnished  by  the  survivors  of  the  36th  fails 
us  or  is  inadequate  to  fill  out  the  details : 

"The  advance  on  the  right  soon  followed  the  attack  upon 
Overton  Hill.  It  had  been  anticipated  that  the  28rd  Corps,  fac 
ing  east,  would  first  advance  ;  but  there  was  so  much  delay  that 
Gen.  McArthur  requested  permission  to  carry  the  strong  position 
before  him.  Col.  McMillen  was  ordered  to  charge  with  his  bri 
gade  and  take  by  storm  the  hill  upon  which  rested  the  left  flank 
of  the  main  line  of  the  enemy.  McMillen  was  directed  to  ascend 
from  the  west,  while  the  remainder  of  the  division  attacked  in 
front.  Col.  McMillen  ordered  his  men  to  refrain  from  firing  and 
cheering,  until  they  had  gained  the  works.  A  heavy  line  of  skir 
mishers  moved  rapidly  forward,  and  as  it  advanced,  the  artillery 
in  sympathy  gave  roar  after  roar  in  quick  repetition,  while  between 
these  sheets  of  flame  and  smoke,  in  the  stern  silence  of  desperate 


INFLUENCE   OF   SUCCESS.  689 

valor,  the  brigade  moved  up  the  hill.  The  enemy  opened  with 
musketry  and  the  death-dealing,  short-range  missiles  of  his  artil 
lery.  But  on,  without  halt  or  waver,  moved  the  columns,  and 
soon  the  position  was  carried,  with  three  general  officers,  a 
large  number  of  lower  grades,  and  a  corresponding  number  of 
men,  as  prisoners,  together  with  twenty-seven  pieces  of  artillery 
and  twelve  stands  of  colors.'" 

"  The  shout  of  these  divisions  in  victory,  called  forth  respon 
sive  cheers  from  those  charging  on  the  right  and  left.  Wilson 
with  his  dismounted  troopers  swept  eastward  and  gained  the  hill 
against  which  the  23rd  Corps  was  advancing.  A  brigade  of  Cox's 
Division  crowned  a  fortified  position  on  the  right  of  the  salient 
of  the  enemy's  left  flank,  capturing  eight  guns  and  from  two 
hundred  and  fifty  to  three  hundred  prisoners." 

"  The  noise  of  Smith's  victory  induced  Wood  and  Steedman 
to  renew  their  assault  on  Overton  Hill — their  entire  commands 
rushing  forward  and  sweeping  all  before  them,  on  the  summit 
and  beyond,  as  they  moved  in  rapid  pursuit.  Beatty's  Division 
crowned  the  hill  and  captured  four  pieces  of  artillery,  a  large 
number  of  prisoners  and  two  stands  of  colors.  Kimball's  Divi 
sion  cleared  the  intrenchments  in  its  front,  and  captured  a  large 
number  of  prisoners  and  small  arms,  while  Elliott's  carried  the 
line  throughout  its  front,  and  captured  five  guns,  many  prison 
ers  and  arms.  This  general  charge  was  resistless  and  the  enemy 
was  hurled  from  every  position,  in  utter  rout  and  demoralization. 
The  success  of  the  first  day  was  the  inspiration  of  the  second, 
and  officers  and  men  vied  with  each  other  in  personal  daring  and 
persistent  steady  courage." 

The  part  taken  by  the  36th  in  the  second  day's  engagement  is 
so  interwoven  with  other  regiments,  that  it  is  difficult  to  partic 
ularize  any  single  incident  peculiarly  its  own  and  separate  it  from 


690  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  achievements  of  the  whole  division.  The  2nd  Division  moved 
as  a  unit ;  triumphed  as  a  unit — and  where  all  did  well,  it  is 
impossible  to  discriminate  and  say  that  any  one  regiment  or 
detachment  is  entitled  to  brighter  laurels  than  another.  We 
think,  however,  that  the  detachment  of  skirmishers  detailed 
from  the  36th  are  justly  entitled  to  worthy  notice,  from  the  fact 
that  they  took  the  initiative  and  were  the  first  to  reach  the  barri 
cade  of  fallen  timber,  behind  which  the  enemy's  pickets  were 
securely  laying,  and  when  the  wild  tempest  of  shot  beat  against 
them,  none  clung  to  the  position  with  greater  tenacity  than  the 
boys  of  the  36th.  It  was  they  that  inaugurated  measures  for 
the  expulsion  of  the  enemy  from  their  intrenched  position  and 
opened  the  way  for  the  final  charge.  On  gaining  the  picket  line, 
their  reserves  were  observed  at  work  strengthening  the  line  and 
rendering  a  stone  wall  impervious  to  shot  by  covering  it  with 
earth.  After  some  solicitation  on  the  part  of  Lieut.  Hall,  a 
single  gun  was  dragged  by  hand  up  to  the  skirmish  line,  planted 
behind  an  enormous  stump,  which  served  as  a  parapet,  and  solid 
shot  and  shell  were  hurled  in  rapid  succession  against  the  wall, 
mingling  earth  and  rock  in  one  common  ruin.  A  passage  many 
yards  in  extent  was  opened  and  cleared  of  defenders,  through 
which  the  2nd  Division,  when  the  final  charge  was  made,  was 
enabled  to  pass  with  trifling  loss. 

When  the  works  were  finally  carried,  and  a  glorious  victory 
achieved,  there  was  no  halting  for  congratulation  or  for  the  col 
lection  of  trophys.  On  charged  the  exultant  Federals  in  swift 
pursuit,  up  the  Franklin  pike.  A  disorderly,  panic-stricken 
rabble  crowded  the  road  in  front,  without  the  semblance  of  mili 
tary  order  and  discipline.  Each  was  intent  on  his  own  individual 
safety.  Artillery  was  brought  up  and  planted  on  commanding 
elevations,  and  frequent  discharges  of  shell  served  to  heighten 


"SAMBO"  GETS  "CATERGES."  •      691 

the  confusion  of  the  retreat.  Numbers  who  had  sought  shelter 
in  ravines  or  houses  by  the  way-side  were  gathered  up  as  the  vic 
torious  columns  marched  along,  and  sent  as  prisoners  to  the  rear. 

The  colored  soldiers  joined  in  the  pursuit  with  as  keen  a  zest 
as  the  most  enthusiastic  of  the  veterans.  In  passing  a  house 
near  the  road,  a  tall,  lank  and  not  altogether  subdued  Rebel  was 
observed  still  in  possession  of  his  Enfield  rifle  and  military 
accoutrements.  A  member  of  the  36th  ordered  him  to  throw  it 
down  and  surrender,  which  he  reluctantly  proceeded  to  do.  Just 
then  a  colored  soldier  came  up  on  a  full  run,  and  with  a  broad 
grin  on  his  face,  indicating  his  satisfaction  at  the  aspect  of  affairs. 
Approaching  the  36th  boy,  he  thus  accosted  him,  "Dis  am  high 
ole  fun.  Aint  we  jess  morn  makin'  dem  Rebbils  git?  Say,  sah, 
has  yer  enny  caterges  ?  I'me  plum  out,  spended  dem  in  de  com- 
plemens  ob  de  season  wid  dem  Rebbils."  He  was  directed  to 
appropriate  the  contents  of  the  cartridge  box  of  the  surrendered 
Confederate.  Johnnie  was  slow  in  complying  with  the  demand 
to  deliver,  and  looked  daggers  at  the  sable  son  of  the  South, 
muttering  something  that  sounded  like  ud — d  niggers."  Ethio 
pia  soon  replenished  his  ammunition,  and  dashed  on,  enthusiastic 
and  happy. 

The  defeat  of  Hood  was  most  signal  and  complete.  Along 
his  line  of  retreat  evidences  of  disaster  marked  the  way.  Small 
arms  were  thickly  strewn  along  the  road,  his  dead  were  left 
where  they  had  fallen,  and  his  wounded  were  uncared  for.  In 
the  pursuit,  squads  of  careworn  and  dejected  prisoners  were 
gathered  up  and  marched  to  the  rear.  A  dozen  Federals  would 
not  hesitate  to  charge  a  body  of  ten  times  their  number,  and  gen 
erally  brought  them  unresisting  into  our  lines.  Darkness  inter 
rupted  the  pursuit,  and  the  4th  Corps  bivouacked  upon  the  Frank 
lin  turnpike  a  mile  from  the  village  of  Brentwood. 


692  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

No  defeat  was  more  crushing  to  the  Confederate  cause  in  the 
west,  or  victory  to  the  Federal  arms  more  complete,  than  this  last 
struggle  of  rebellion  about  Nashville.  Its  army  had  fought  with 
distinction,  and  covered  itself  with  glory  on  many  a  historic 
field.  In  all  the  battles  of  the  west,  from  Belmont,  Shiloh,  Stone 
River,  Chickamauga,  Atlanta,  Franklin  to  Nashville,  where  it 
found  an  honored  grave,  it  had  fought  with  distinction.  Its 
patient  endurance  of  hardships,  its  persistence,  bravery,  fortitude 
in  defeat,  and  the  tenacity  with  which  it  had  clung  to  their  cause, 
from  friend  and  foe  alike  challenged  admiration  and  respect. 
Lee's  army  in  the  east  and  Hood's  in  the  west  were  the  only 
remaining  supports  of  the  rebellion.  One  of  these  was  now 
broken,  its  remnants  fleeing  southward  a  disorganized  rabble,  and 
from  the  crushing  effects  of  this  defeat  it  never  again  recovered. 
The  immediate  fruits  of  this  victory  were  four  thousand  four  hun 
dred  and  sixty  two  prisoners,  including  one  Major  General,  three 
Brigadiers,  two  hundred  and  eighty '  officers  of  lower  grade,  all 
the  wounded  upon  the  field,  fifty-three  pieces  of  artillery,  thou 
sands  of  small  arms,  and  twenty-five  battle  flags. 

We  have  failed,  after  a  careful  inspection  of  reports  and  other 
memoranda,  to  obtain  a  complete  list  of  casualties  of  the  36th  in 
this  engagement.  The  losses,  however,  were  small,  and  if  we 
are  unable  to  present  the  names  of  all,  it  is  not  from  a  lack  of 
effort  on  our  part. 

COMPANY    C. 

Orderly  Sergt.  David  S.  Irvine,  killed;  Corp.  David  II.  Henderson, 
wounded  in  the  head;  Sergt.  John  A.  Porter,  thigh. 

COMPANY    G. 

Joseph  Scofield,  thigh. 

COMPANY    K. 

G.  A.  Underwood,  killed. 


CHAPTER    XLIII 


PURSUIT    OF    HOOD. 

GREAT  battle  had  been  fought — a  victory,  decisive 
in  its  results,  had  been  won.  The  vanquished  enemy 
was  in  full  retreat,  and  the  next  duty — a  sad  one — 
was  to  care  for  the  wounded.  The  night  was  dark  ; 
the  scene  of  conflict  spread  over  a  wide  area  of  field, 
woodland  and  mountain.  Details  ranged  the  blood- 
besprinkled  field — groping  their  way  by  the  light  of  torches  and 
lanterns — in  the  search  for  wounded  comrades.  They  were  found 
lying  singly  or  in  pairs ;  under  trees  or  in  secluded  nooks,  utter- 
ring  but  few  words  of  complaint  or  moans  of  distress ;  patiently 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  stretcher-bearers,  to  carry  them  to  the 
field  hospitals,  there  to  receive  such  care  and  attention  as  the 
nature  of  their  wounds  demanded.  Wounded  Confederates 
received  the  same  humane  treatment,  and  all  the  long  night,  sur 
geons  were  engaged  in  their  melancholy  labors,  and  such  as 
could  be  found  in  that  gloomy  midnight  search  were  cared  for. 

Orders  were  issued  for  the  collection  of  captured  and  aban 
doned  property,  for  its  preservation  and  care,  while  such  a  dis 
position  was  made  of  the  forces  as  to  insure  a  vigorous  and  effect 
ive  pursuit.  For  more  than  three  years,  this  very  army,  under 


61)4  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

various  leaders,  had  confronted  us  at  every  turn ;  had  annoyed 
us  on  every  march,  and  fought  us  on  many  a  well-contested  bat 
tle-field.  It  had  done  all  that  heroic  fortitude  and  valor  could  do 
to  vindicate  their  cause.  The  whole  north  was  filled  with  fear 
ful  evidences  of  its  persistent  courage  and  daring.  Every  neigh 
borhood,  and  nearly  every  fireside,  was  darkened  with  the  shadow 
of  death.  The  wailing  cry  of  widows  ;  the  tears  of  orphaned 
children ;  the  anguish  of  broken  hearts,  were  terrible  witnesses 
of  their  indomitable  bravery,  the  perseverance  and  energy  of  the 
now  discomfitted  and  flying  foe.  All  were  keenly  alive  to  the 
necessity  of  a  vigorous  pursuit — which  would  terminate  forever  the 
career  of  an  army  that  had  inflicted  upon  the  country  such 
unnumbered  woes. 

The  people,  not  being  aware  of  the  want  of  preparation,  and 
of  the  lack  of  many  essentials  for  following  up  and  obtaining 
decisive  results  from  a  battle  and  victory,  were  clamorous  for  an 
immediate  advance.  During  the  fifteen  days  of  nominal  invest 
ment,  the  popular  cry  assumed  something  of  the  proportions  of 
the  "On  to  Richmond"  clangor  of  1861.  To  this  Gen.  Thomas 
gave  no  heed,  but  when  the  echoes  of  popular  feeling  were 
responded  to  by  Gen.  Grant  and  the  military  authorities  at  Wash 
ington,  the  case  assumed  a  different  aspect,  and  when  offensive 
operations  were  finally  inaugurated  on  the  15th,  many  essentials 
to  a  complete  and  decisive  triumph  were  still  lacking.  The 
rainy  reason  had  set  in,  the  roads  were  miry,  the  creeks  and 
rivers  were  full  to  overflowing.  It  was  in  the  power  of  a  retreat 
ing  enemy,  though  badly  defeated,  to  destroy  all  the  bridges  in 
their  rear,  and  without  adequate  preparation  for  bridging  the 
streams,  delays  must  ensue.  A  single  pontoon  train  was  all  that 
Gen.  Thomas  had  at  his  command.  This,  when  thrown  across 
an  otherwise  impassable  stream,  must  necessarily  remain  until 


THE    PURSUIT    OF    HOOD.  695 

the  whole  army  had  crossed,  compelling  delay  at  the  crossing  of 
the  next  until  the  pontoon,  no  longer  needed  at  the  former,  could 
be  taken  up,  transported  to  and  laid  over  the  latter.  This  was 
precisely  what  did  occur,  and  was  the  only  favorable  circumstance 
that  enabled  a  single  fragment  of  Hood's  army  to  escape.  In 
addition  to  these  favoring  conditions  in  Hood's  behalf,  at  the  very 
outset,  the  pontoon  train  set  out  on  the  wrong  road,  and  had 
proceeded  a  considerable  distance  when  it  stuck  in  the  mud  and 
was  otherwise  delayed  before  it  could  be  placed  on  the  right  road. 

The  pursuit  commenced  early  in  the  morning  of  the  17th. 
The  4th  Corps,  which  had  bivouacked  on  the  turnpike,  pressed 
forward  directly  toward  Franklin,  through  the  little  town  of 
Brentwood  and  over  the  Brentwood  hills.  The  cavalry  followed 
the  Granny  White  pike  to  its  junction  with  the  main  Franklin 
road,  and  filing  past  the  infantry,  took  the  advance.  Among 
the  men  the  feeling  was  quite  general  that  the  victory  of  yester 
day,  it  properly  followed  up,  would  result  not  only  in  the  cap 
ture  of  Hood's  entire  army,  but  in  the  speedy  termination  of 
the  war.  A  return  to  their  homes,  now  more  than  ever,  was 
regarded  as  an  event  of  the  near  future.  The  object  to  be  gained 
was  worth  any  effort,  any  privation,  any  sacrifice.  On  every  side 
were  heard  expressions  of  hope,  mingled  with  shouts  of  exultation. 

A  division  of  cavalry,  under  Gen.  Johnson,  was  sent  to  inter 
sect  the  Harpeth  river  at  the  crossing  of  the  Hillsboro  road, 
with  orders  to  pass  over,  and  moving  rapidly  up  its  south  bank, 
endeavor  to  reach  Franklin  and  cut  off  the  enemy's  retreat. 
The  main  column  continuing  on  the  turnpike,  came  upon  the 
Rebel  rear  guard  strongly  posted  in  front  of  a  narrow  opening 
or  gap  in  the  hills,  four  miles  north  of  Franklin,  for  the  purpose 
of  checking  our  cavalry  advance  while  the  remainder  of  their 
army  was  crossing  the  Harpeth  river.  Detachments  were  sent 


696  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

to  the  flanks  of  this  plucky  rear  guard,  and  when  all  was  in 
readiness,  a  simultaneous  charge  was  made  in  front  arid  flank, 
arid  the  position  carried  at  the  first  dash.  Four  hundred  pris 
oners  and  three  flags  were  taken ;  the  remainder  fled  precipitately 
to  Franklin,  where  another  stand  was  made  to  dispute  the  pas 
sage  of  the  Harpeth  river.  The  bridges  were  destroyed,  and 
our  only  hope  of  effecting  a  crossing  for  the  infantry  and  artil- 
lery  centered  in  the  pontoon  train,  which  was  many  miles  in  the 
rear,  floundering  slowly  along  through  the  mud.  The  infantry 
and  artillery  began  to  come  up,  and  preparations  were  made  for 
the  shelling  of  the  enemy  from  the  town,  when  they  suddenly 
decamped  and  retreated  southward  towards  Columbia.  Soon 
thereafter  Johnson's  Division  was  seen  approaching  from  below, 
which  was  the  cause  of  Hood's  hurried  exit.  The  town  was 
occupied  by  Johnson,  and  later  in  the  day  Hatch  crossed  his 
division  at  one  of  the  least  dangerous  fords.  The  infantry  came 
up  about  noon,  but  the  river  had  risen  so  rapidly  after  the  cross 
ing  of  the  cavalry  as  to  be  impassable  until  the  pontoons  should 
be  laid  or  a  bridge  constructed.  The  4th  Corps  encamped  on 
the  north  side,  and  with  such  material  as  was  at  hand,  set  about 
the  building  of  a  trestle  bridge ;  but  this  was  not  accomplished 
before  night,  and  the  whole  infantry  commands  remained  in  their 
camps,  Steedman  on  the  banks  of  the  river  near  Wood,  and 
Smith  and  Scofield  at  the  intersection  of  the  Franklin  and 
Granny  White  pikes. 

Thousands  of  wounded — the  maimed  victims  of  the  late  battle 
at  Franklin — crowded  the  hospitals  and  residences,  and  were  left 
to  the  mercy  and  care  of  their  victorious  enemies — a  change 
most  gratifying  to  the  majority,  for  the  poverty  of  the  South  in 
medicines  and  the  wretched  management  of  their  Sanitary 
Department  was  not  conducive  to  the  alleviation  of  suffering  and 


PURSUIT    OF   THE   ENEMY.  697 

the  healing  of  wounds.  For  the  first  time  we  began  to  realize 
the  extent  of  the  damage  inflicted  upon  the  enemy  in  that  engage 
ment.  Long  winnows  of  fresh  turned  earth  indicated  the  num 
bers  and  final  resting  place  of  slain  thousands.  We  were  told 
that  some  of  the  trenches  contained  the  remains  of  nearly  whole 
regiments — mown  down  almost  to  a  man  by  the  sheets  of  fire 
and  lead  that  leaped  from  our  intrenchments.  and  that  days  of 
laborious  sepulture  were  necessary  before  the  defaced  and  swollen 
bodies  of  the  dead  were  hid  away  in  the  bosom  of  our  common 
mother,  Earth. 

Gen.  Wilson  remained  at  Franklin  with  the  cavalry  a  short 
time,  to  arrange  the  details  of  pursuit.  Flanking  columns  marched 
on  parallel  roads  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  Columbia  pike,  endeav 
oring  to  pass  around  the  enemy's  flanks,  and,  sweeping  down 
upon  the  line  of  fugitives,  cut  off  the  rear  guard,  which  was  the 
only  organized  detachment  connected  with  Hood's  flying  army. 
With  a  bravery  and  skill  worthy  its  traditions  of  valor  and  glo 
rious  antecedents  on  other  fields,  it  presented  an  insuperable  bar 
rier  against  direct  assault,  and  moving  rapidly,  prevented  success 
ful  flanking.  A  spirited  skirmish  line,  and  a  skillful  arrange 
ment  of  artillery  warded  off  attacks  and  covered  the  broken  col 
umn  in  its  retreat. 

Still  the  cavalry  pressed  it  closely,  and  late  in  the  evening 
compelled  it  to  stand  at  bay.  A  strong  position  was  taken  in 
an  open  field  not  far  from  the  crossing  of  the  West  Harpeth, 
while  the  main  body  went  into  camp  on  the  other  side  of  the 
stream,  little  imagining  that  pursuit  would  be  continued  in  the 
night  and  break  the  repose  they  so  much  needed.  The  thick  fog 
and  falling  darkness  delayed  movements  somewhat,  and  enabled 
the  enemy  to  strengthen  its  line  and  place  batteries  in  favorable 
positions.  A  reconnoissance  was  ordered,  and  as  soon  as  it  was 

45 


698  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

satisfactorily  ascertained  that  the  force  confronting  him  was 
only  the  Rebel  rear  guard,  Gen.  Wilson  ordered  a  charge  upon 
both  flanks.  While  the  columns  were  being  organized  for  the 
assault,  the  artillery  on  either  side  were  eloquent  in  expressions 
of  mutual  hostility.  When  all  were  in  readiness,  a  regiment  of 
regular  cavalry  formed  in  column  by  fours  and  dashed  upon  the 
center  of  the  Rebel  line  in  a  wild  sabre  charge.  The  clang  of 
steel  in  a  close  hand-to-hand  encounter  and  the  pattering  fire  of 
small  arms  succeeded  the  deep-voiced  thunder  of  cannon,  and 
rolled  out  in  swelling  cadences  upon  the  mist-laden  air.  At  the 
same  time  the  flanking  detachments  charged  down  upon  the  Rebel 
lines,  carried  the  position,  arid  threw  the  rear  guard  into  inex 
tricable  confusion.  The  routed  fugitives  streamed  unresisting 
to  the  rear.  Federals  and  Confederates  were  promiscuously 
commingled,  and  many  were  the  feats  of  daring  and  narrow 
escapes  attendant  upon  this  midnight  melee.  Across  the  West 
llarpeth  the  fugitives  poured,  their  assailants  close  upon  them, 
and  attacking  the  main  Rebel  encampment,  threw  the  whole  mass 
into  an  uproar.  Darkness  shrouded  the  movements  of  the  Fed 
erals  ;  doubt,  fear  and  uncertainty  magnified  their  numbers,  and 
being  pressed  from  all  sides,  the  enemy  fled  away  in  terror,  aban 
doning  their  camp,  trains,  and  much  of  their  artillery  and  equip 
ments,  to  their  ubiquitous  and  invincible  foes.  The  routed  force 
proved  to  be  the  two  Divisions  of  Stevenson  and  Forest,  that 
had  suffered  the  least  of  any  in  Hood's  command,  and  were  still 
possessed  of  much  of  the  spirit  arid  dash  of  other  days.  Gen. 
Wilson's  command  proceeded  no  further  that  night,  but  bivou- 
aced  by  the  Rebel  camp-fires.  The  constant  strain  and  excite 
ment  of  the  last  three  days  disposed  the  men  for  rest,  and  despite 
the  rain,  the  cold,  and  other  discomforts  of  the  situation,  they 
slept  soundly. 


HARPETH    RECROSSED.  699 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  18th,  Wilson's  troopers  were  in 
their  saddles,  and  the  column  headed  in  the  direction  taken  by 
the  retreating  foe,  the  pursuit  being  urged  with  all  the  rapidity 
the  execrable  condition  of  the  roads  would  permit.  Fear  had 
lent  wings  to  the  enemy's  flight,  and  all  night  long  the  terrified 
fugitives  fled  along  the  pike  like  sheep,  thinking  the  remorseless 
<%  Yankee  cavalry  "  were  at  their  heels.  They  never  halted  until 
the  deep,  foaming  waters  of  Rutherford's  Creek  was  passed  and 
placed  between  them  and  their  dreaded  pursuers,  and  the  bridge 
spanning  the  stream  effectually  destroyed.  On  through  Spring 
Hill  the  cavalry  division  held  its  way,  but  saw  no  enemy 
except  sick  and  foot-sore  stragglers,  who,  unable  to  keep  up  or  pro 
ceed  further,  were  left  behind.  The  head  of  the  column  reached 
Rutherford's  Creek  shortly  after  Hood's  rear  guard  had  passed, 
and  just  as  the  broken  fragments  of  the  bridge  were  disappear 
ing  from  sight,  floating  down  stream. 

Rutherford's  Creek,  for  the  present  impassable,  stopped  the 
pursuit,  and  interposed  a  more  effectual  barrier  to  our  advance 
than  any  rear  guard  that  could  be  extemporized  from  Hood's 
dispirited  followers.  The  4th  Corps  was  enabled  to  cross  the 
Harpeth  at  Franklin,  and  early  in  the  morning  set  out  on  the 
march  over  the  road  it  had  recently  passed  in  retreat.  The 
u  natives,"  then  so  jubilant  over  the  idea  of  the  "Yanks"  being 
driven  from  the  country  and  hurled  back  upon  Nashville 
and  to  the  Ohio  river,  now  experienced  an  entire  revulsion  of 
feeling.  The  tables  were  turned,  and  a  more  forlorn  and  discon 
solate  set  of  bipeds  were  seldom  seen.  As  the  boys  floundered 
along  through  the  mud  and  rain,  every  spot  was  familiar,  for 
they  had  recently  fought  over  every  inch  of  the  ground  and 
taken  the  lead  in  Hood's  advance.  All  day  they  plodded  on, 
over  roads  not  a  whit  improved  by  the  passage  of  Rebels  before 


700  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

them,  and  towards  night  came  up  with  the  cavalry   and  camped 
near  them  on  the  north  bank  of  the  creek. 

The  next  day  was  passed  in  vain  efforts  to  effect  a  crossing. 
The  pontoon  train  was  far  in  the  rear,  and  a  very  uncertain 
dependence  at  best.  Logs,  timbers  from  the  ruins  of  the  rail 
road  bridge  and  other  material  were  collected  for  the  construc 
tion  of  some  sort  of  temporary  means  of  crossing  ;  the  Con 
federates  in  the  meantime  having  disappeared  in  the  direction  of 
Columbia.  Casualties  of  battle,  desertion  and  other  causes  had 
diminished  their  number  more  than  half,  and  the  commands  of 
Wilson  and  Wood  were  deemed  sufficient  to  keep  up  the  pursuit. 
Accordingly  A.  J.  Smith  proceeded  no  farther  than  Spring  Hill 
and  Scofield  halted  at  Franklin.  Subsequently  their  commands 
were  distributed  at  various  points  for  the  occupation  of  the 
country. 

On  the  20th  a  clumsily  built  floating  bridge  was  completed. 
A  division  of  cavalry  and  Wood's  command  were  enabled  to 
cross,  and  proceeding  opposite  to  Columbia  found  the  place 
deserted,  the  enemy  gone,  and  the  bridge  over  Duck  river 
destroyed.  Another  uncertain  delay  was  inevitable,  and  the 
enemy  found  time  to  recuperate  and  organize  a  rear  guard,  com 
posed  of  the  .best  of  his  remaining  troops,  under  the  lead  of  his 
most  skillful  subordinates,  and  to  this  alone  was  he  indebted  for 
the  escape  of  the  remainder  of  his  army. 

On  the  21st  the  pontoon  train  reached  Rutherford's  Creek,  and 
the  remaining  troops  and  trains  were  enabled  to  pass  over  and 
proceeded  to  Duck  river.  The  weather  now  turned  extremely 
cold,  the  mud  was  frozen,  and  the  roads  became  exceedingly 
rough.  The  pontoons  were  brought  forward,  and  against  a  swift 
current  and  floating  ice  were  thrown  across  the  river,  over  which 
the  infantry  passed  on  the  23rd  and  the  cavalry  on  the  24th,  and 


THE   PURSUIT   CONTINUED.  701 

the  pursuit  again  resumed.  While  encamped  near  Columbia,  a 
teamster  of  the  36th,  while  watering  his  mules,  discovered  a  sec 
tion  of  artillery  in  the  river,  which  the  subsidence  of  the  water 
left  partially  exposed.  It  was  found  that  the  enemy  in  his  hasty 
retreat  had  thrown  into  the  stream  several  fine  pieces  of  ordnance, 
which  were  fished  out  and  subsequently  removed. 

The  enemy  wisely  improved  every  hour  of  our  enforced  delay, 
and  were  a  long  distance  in  advance.     It  was  an  impossibility  to 
deploy,  march  in  parallel  lines   or  proceed,  except  on   a   single 
narrow  pike  ;  hence  the  column  was  long  drawn  out,  the  cavalry 
in  advance,  the  infantry  in  rear,  with  its  mighty  coil  of  men  and 
horses  pushing  on  in  pursuit.     Not  a  hostile  force  was  encount 
ered  until  reaching  Linnville,  when  the  cavalry  struck  a  part  of 
the   Rebel   rear   guard,  and  a  hot  skirmish  ensued.      Another 
detachment  was  encountered  at  Buford's  Station.    At  both  places 
the  enemy  made  a  short  stand,  but  was  speedily  driven,  a  num 
ber  of  prisoners  taken  and  other  losses  sustained.     The  cavalry 
followed  in  close  pursuit,  and  the  head  of  the  column  was  so  near 
at  hand  as  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  bridges  over  Richland 
Creek.     Pulaski  was  abandoned,  and  the  enemy  pursued  toward 
Lamb's  ferry  over  an  almost  impracticable  road  and  through  a 
country  devoid  of  sustenance  for  man  and  beast.     In  the  after 
noon  he  was   found  entrenched  at  the  head  of  a  long,  narrow 
ravine,  through  which  the  road  passed.     The  advance,  a  single 
light  brigade,  charged  recklessly  up  the  road  and  was  met  with 
a  withering  fire  from  infantry  and  artillery,  and  driven  hurridly 
back,  with  the  loss  of  one  gun  and  several  men.     Reinforce 
ments  coming  up,  it  was  then  the  enemy's  turn  to  retreat.     In 
the  charge  which  followed,  many  prisoners  were  captured,  but 
the  gun  taken  from  us  in  the  first  charge  they  managed  to   get 
away  with  and  retain  in  their  possession. 


702  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

The  4th  Corps  kept  well  closed  up  with  the  cavalry,  and  had 
a  stand  been  made  and  determined  resistance  offered,  were  close 
at  hand  to  share  in  the  conflict.  The  pursuing  column  moved 
so  rapidly  as  to  leave  the  supply  trains  far  in  the  rear,  and  both 
men  and  animals  suffered  for  a  want  of  something  to  eat.  The 
road  from  Pulaski  southward  was  strewn  with  abandoned  wagons, 
limbers,  small  arms,  blankets  and  other  paraphernalia  of  a  hope, 
lessly  demoralized  army.  The  command  reached  Lexington, 
thirty  miles  south-west  of  Pulaski,  on  the  28th,  when  it  having 
been  definitely  ascertained  that  Hood  had  made  good  his  escape 
across  the  Tennessee  river,  the  further  pursuit  was  abandoned. 
At  every  halting  place  his  wounded  were  left  in  hospital,  and 
these  fell  into  our  hands. 

With  the  termination  of  the  pursuit  the  different  subdivisions 
of  the  army  were  directed  to  go  into  winter  quarters  along  the 
line  of  the  Tennessee  river.  The  4th  Corps  was  ordered  to 
Huntsville  and  Athens,  to  remain  until  spring,  in  the  meantime 
making  preparations  and  holding  themselves  in  readiness  to  pros 
ecute  to  a  successful  close  the  war  in  the  west. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  Gen.  Thomas  announced  in  Gen 
eral  Orders,  the  termination  and  results  of  the  campaign,  as 

follows : 

PULASKI,  DEC.  29th,  1864. 

SOLDIERS  : — The  Major  General  commanding  announces  to 
you  that  the  rear  guard  of  the  flying  and  dispirited  enemy  was 
driven  across  the  Tennessee  river  on  the  night  of  the  27th  inst. 
The  impassable  state  of  the  roads,  and  consequent  impossibility 
to  supply  the  army,  compels  a  closing  of  the  campaign  for  the 
present. 

Although    short,   it   has  been    brilliant  in   its   achievements, 
unsurpassed  in  its  results  by  any  other  of  this  war,  and  is  one  of 
which  all  who  participated  therein  may  be  justly  proud. 
After  having  received  at  Franklin   the  most  terrible  check  that 


THOMAS'  GENERAL  ORDER.          703 

army  has  received  during  this  war,  and  later  at  Murfreesboro  in 
its  attempt  to  capture  that  place,  the  enemy  was  finally  attacked 
at  Nashville,  and  although  your  forces  were  inferior  to  it  in  num 
bers,  was  hurled  back  from  the  coveted  prize,  on  which  it  had 
been  permitted  to  look  from  a  distance,  and  finally  sent  flying, 
dismayed  and  disordered,  whence  it  came,  placing  the  broad 
waters  of  the  Tennessee  river  between  you  and  its  shattered, 
diminished  and  discomfitted  columns,  leaving  its  artillery  and 
battle-flags  in  your  victorious  hands — lasting  trophies  of  your 
noble  daring,  and  lasting  monuments  of  the  enemy's  disgrace 
and  defeat. 

You  have  diminished  the  forces  of  the  Rebel  army  since  it 
crossed  the  Tennessee  river  to  invade  the  state,  at  the  least  esti 
mate  fifteen  thousand  men,  among  whom  were  killed,  wounded 
and  captured,  eighteen  general  officers. 

Your  captures  from  the  enemy,  as  far  as  reported,  amount  to 
sixty-eight  pieces  of  artillery,  ten  thousand  prisoners,  as  many 
stand  of  small  arms — several  thousand  of  which  have  been 
gathered  in  and  the  remainder  strew  the  route  of  the  enemy's 
retreat — and  between  thirty  and  forty  flags,  besides  compelling 
him  to  destroy  much  ammunition  and  abandon  many  wagons. 
Unless  he  is  mad,  he  must  forever  abandon  all  hope  of  bringing 
Tennessee  again  within  the  lines  of  the  accursed  rebellion.  A 
short  time  will  now  be  given  to  prepare  to  continue  the  work  so 
nobly  begun. 

By  command  of  Major  General  Thomas. 

W.  D.  WHIPPLE,  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

With  the  subsequent  operations  of  the  cavalry,  how  it  defeated 
one  after  another  the  scattered  detachments  of  the  enemv,  how 
it  overrun  much  of  the  States  of  Alabama,  Mississippi  and 
Georgia,  and  its  agency  in  bringing  about  the  final  collapse  of 
the  rebellion,  we  shall  have  no  more  to  say.  Its  movements 
wrere  distinct  and  separate  from  the  infantry  command  to  which 
the  36th  was  attached,  and  foreign  to  the  objects  of  this  history. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 


HUNTSVILLE,    EAST    TENNESSEE    AND    NEW    ORLEANS. 


HEN  the  pursuit  was  abandoned,  the  36th  had 
reached  Lexington,  a  straggling  Alabama 
village,  but  a  few  miles  distant  from  the  Ten 
nessee  river.  The  march  had  been  a  hurried 
and  exceedingly  fatiguing  one,  far  in  advance 
of  the  trains.  The  command  lay  in  camp 
three  days  at  Lexington,  without  rations,  except  the  scanty  sup 
plies  gleaned  from  a  poor  and  partially  devastated  country.  A 
small  provision  train  having  come  up,  and  the  men  being  some 
what  rested,  the  march  was  resumed  on  the  81st,  in  the  direction 
of  Athens.  Sugar  Creek  was  crossed  on  the  1st  of  January, 
1865,  and  marching  five  miles  the  regiment  halted  and  remained 
in  camp  two  days,  awaiting  the  construction  of  a  bridge  over  Elk 
river,  which  was  completed  the  4th,  and  the  troops  were  again 
on  the  march,  reaching  Athens  and  passing  through  the  town, 
without  halting,  on  the  5th. 

The  country  was  mostly  low  and  marshy,  alternating  with 
pine  barrens.  The  weather  was  mild  but  stormy.  Frequent 
rains  had  flooded  the  low  lands,  filling  the  rivers  and  smaller 


WINTER   QUARTERS   AT   HUNTSVlLLE.  705 

• 

streams,  rendering  their  progress  over  the  half  submerged  swamps 
disagreeable  and  slow.  Yet  these  obstacles  were  not  insur 
mountable,  and  the  command  reached  Huntsville,  its  place  of 
destination,  the  6th  of  January. 

There  being  no  enemy  in  the  country  to  watch  or  to  combat, 
the  building  of  winter  quarters  was  the  first  and  about  the  only 
business  in  hand,  to  which  all  parties  went  diligently  to  work. 
The  music  of  axes  rang  through  the  forest  aisles ;  pine  trees 
were  cut  and  split  into  clap-boards  and  puncheons,  indicating  a 
determination  to  keep  comfortable  during  the  dreary  months  to 
come.  While  some  were  at  work  in  the  woods,  others  carried 
the  material  to  the  place  selected  for  the  camp.  A  ruined  build 
ing  a  mile  or  more  distant,  furnished  brick  for  fire-places  and 
chimneys,  and  a  continuous  procession  of  men  were  on  the  road, 
carrying  brick  by  every  imaginable  mode  of  conveyance — some 
with  their  burdens  on  their  heads  (none  were  observed  with  bricks 
in  their  hats),  others  carrying  them  in  their  arms,  and  yet  others 
with  ingeniously  contrived  frames  strapped  to  their  backs  or 
shoulders.  "Many  hands  made  light  work,"  and  it  is  needless 
to  say  that  in  an  incredibly  short  time  material  was  collected  and 
a  compact  and  well  ordered  city  of  square,  wooden  cabins  sprang 
into  existence  as  if  by  magic.  These  cabins  were  clean,  healthy 
and  comfortable,  and  when  decorated  according  to  the  taste  of 
the  occupants,  were  altogether  in  harmony  with  the  pleasant 
surroundings. 

That  restless  expectancy  manifested  by  soldiers  in  the  earlier 
stages  of  the  war,  had  been  toned  down  by  years  of  hard  service. 
The  men  of  the  36th  had  learned  that  waiting  was  an  essential 
element  of  war,  and  they  gradually  settled  down  to  the  monotony 
of  camp  life,  not  only  with  indifference  but  with  a  cheerful  phi 
losophy.  On  many  a  battle-field  the  regiment  demonstrated  its 


706  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

heroic  valor;  its  reputation  for  courage,  endurance  and  all  the 
qualities  of  good  soldiers  had  passed  into  history,  and  they  could 
now  afford  to  rest  on  their  laurels.  The  usual  routine  of  guard 
duty,  an  occasional  drill,  and  now  and  then  a  review,  with  foot 
races,  foot  and  base  ball,  was  all  that  broke  the  tedium  of  idle 
hours.  Three-fourths  of  the  time  was  the  men's  own,  and  it  was 
an  interesting  study  to  observe  how  differently  persons  would 
manage  to  pass  away  the  time. 

We  have  already  wearied  our  readers  with  pictures  of  camp 
life  at  Hammond,  Rolla  and  at  Rienza,  and  will  not  go  over  the 
same  routine  of  duties  and  diversions  which  filled  up  the  winter 
hours  at  Huntsville. 

Thus  slowly  moved  on  the  leaden-weighted  hours  in  this  win 
ter  encampment,  though  pleasant  in  many  respects,  upon  the 
whole  lazy,  tedious  and  uneventful.  Towards  spring,  that 
peculiar  phase  of  warfare  in  the  South-west,  called  "bush  whack 
ing,"  was  carried  on  to  some  extent,  disturbing  the  quiet  along 
the  Tennessee.  The  cavalry  were  sent  out  to  look  after  these 
sui  generis  warriors,  and  so  effective  were  their  operations  against 
these  well  nigh  ubiquitous  knights  of  the  shot  gun  that  their 
depredations  were  confined  to  points  remote  from  the  posts. 

Huntsville  in  ante-belliori  times  was  a  beautiful  little  city.  Its 
surroundings  were  romantic,  and  all  things  combined  to  make 
this  one  of  the  few  favored  localities  in  the  sunny  South.  Stately 
mansions  dotted  the  country,  and  from  the  higher  undulations 
the  eye  took  in  a  landscape  rich  in  all  the  quiet  charms  sugges 
tive  of  comfort,  peaceful  habitations  and  pleasant  homes.  Well 
cultivated  and  well  fenced  fields  with  their  waving  wealth  of 
tasselcd  grain  were  everywhere.  Now  all  was  changed  !  Every 
thing  bore  evidences  of  the  rude  touch  of  war.  Fences  were 
swept  away,  out-houses  torn  down,  and  the  paling  which  pro- 


THE    36TH   MOVES    NORTH.  707 

tected  from  intrusion  the  lawns  and  gardens  of  opulent  planters, 
one  by  one  disappeared.  Gardens  were  turned  out  to  the  com 
mons,  and  a  naked  plain,  like  some  broad,  western  prairie,  took 
the  place  of  fields,  orchards,  and  lawns.  Here  and  there  the 
dilapidated  walls  of  former  mansions  stood  out  in  sharp  relief, 
either  blank  and  bare  or  tenanted  by  swarms  of  the  "  universal 
darkey,"  reveling  in  filth,  rags  and  wretchedness.  To  add  to 
the  general  desolation,  when  the  army  took  up  its  line  of  march 
to  East  Tennessee  on  its  way  to  North  Carolina  and  Virginia, 
the  fine  barracks  built  from  the  ruins  of  abandoned  Southern 
homes,  were  consigned  to  the  flames. 

The  36th  left  its  winter  encampment  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Huntsville,  March  28th,  and  proceeded  by  rail  to  Chattanooga. 
From  mere  wantonness  the  barracks  were  burned,  and  while 
waiting  for  the  train  to  be  made  up  and  get  under  way,  the 
negroes  that  had  gathered  about  the  abandoned  encampment  for 
plunder  and  cast  off  garments,  were  liberally  sprinkled  with 
flour,  in  token  of  the  lively  regard  of  their  liberators. 

Southern  railroads,  in  times  of  peace  none  the  best,  during 
the  rebellion  were  simply  execrable.  Box  cars,  platform  cars, 
mud  dumpers,  old,  battered  and  rickety,  formed  in  mournful 
procession  after  a  wheezy  locomotive,  was  the  rule,  and  on  these 
men  and  material  were  packed  like  cattle  taken  to  the  shambles. 
The  rails,  ties  and  road-bed,  equally  battered  and  awry,  wound 
in  and  out,  up,  over  and  through  the  grand  old  Cumberland 
hills,  that  seemed  to  rise  and  fall  like  the  waves  of  the  sea. 
Among  these  everlasting  rock-ribbed  hills  slowly  moved  the  train, 
its  freight  of  Union  soldiers  looking  like  moving  cargoes  of 
indigo.  No  train  ever  reached  Chattanooga  without  accident, 
and  this  one  on  which  was  packed  the  36th  was  not  an  excep 
tion.  Luckily  no  heads  were  smashed,  no  bones  broken  or  lives 
lost,  on  the  trip  to  Chattanooga. 


708  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

From  thence  through  East  Tennessee  railroading  was  precari 
ous  business.  It  would  be  folly  in  us  to  attempt  an  enumeration 
of  the  perils  of  "riding  on  a  rail  "  through  "  Secessia"  in  the 
days  of  rebellion.  Like  Doesticks  with  his  rooster,  "  language 
could  not  come  up  to  time"  to  express  the  jolted,  jammed, 
bruised  and  battered  condition  of  the  boys  on  their  arrival  at 
Knoxville. 

The  tedium  of  the  trip  was,  however,  relieved  by  the  sponta 
neous  demonstrations  of  loyalty,  and  expressions  of  gratitude  on 
the  part  of  the  simple,  Union-loving  Tennesseeans.  They  were 
returning  in  large  numbers  from  their  enforced  exile  to  the  homes 
from  whence  they  had  been  hunted  like  beasts  of  the  forests,because 
of  their  fidelity  to  the  government  of  their  fathers.  The  most  com 
mon  way  of  testifying  their  gratitude,  and  one  highly  appreciated 
by  the  boys,  was  the  bounteous  repasts  set  before  them  at  every 
stopping  place,  to  which  they  were  freely  welcome.  Not  a  man 
of  the  regiment  was  allowed  to  pass  through  the  country  hungry. 

Near  the  crossing  of  the  Houlston  river  the  train  was  wrecked. 
Many  men  were  more  or  less  injured,  and  a  few  killed.  Some 
time  was  spent  in  repairing  damages,  then,  speeding  eastward, 
they  reached  Bull's  Gap  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  and  went 
into  camp.  April  4th  the  march  was  resumed  to  Blue  Springs. 
The  final  collapse  of  the  rebellion  rendered  their  presence  unnec 
essary,  and  the  expedition  to  Carolina  and  Virginia  was  aban 
doned. 

Gens.  Stoneman  and  Gillam  had  driven  Breackinridge  from 
the  country ;  the  last  vestige  of  secession  had  disappeared,  and 
multitudes  of  persecuted  Union  refugees  were  returning.  There 
was  now  no  foe  to  combat ;  the  army  was  among  friends,  and 
quiet  prevailed  in  East  Tennessee.  There  was  little  for  the  men 
to  do  but  listen  to  the  click  of  the  telegraph,  announcing  the 


LEE   HAS   SURRENDERED.  709 

success  of  our  armies  in  the  East.  Reports  of  Federal  victories 
burdened  the  wires,  and  were  flashed  to  the  country's  remotest 
corners. 

Not  all  the  excitements  born  of  these  years  of  bullets  and  gun 
powder,  died  with  the  echoes  of  the  last  gun  fired  in  the  cam 
paign  of  Nashville.  There  came  a  time  when  all  the  concen 
trated  joy  that  fired  the  souls  of  men,  burst  forth  with  an  inten 
sity  that  language  is  feeble  to  express.  The  10th  of  April  came 
and  went,  and  the  shadows  of  night  gathered  like  a  shroud  about 
the  camps.  Each  bright  camp-fire  sent  up  its  spire  of  flame, 
which  fitfully  fluttered  its  brief  hour  away — then  died,  and 
smouldering  embers  were  all  that  was  left  to  mark  the  place  of 
its  cheerful  gleaming.  The  boys  had  told  their  last  tough  yarn ; 
the  last  refrain  of 

"  When  this  cruel  war  is  over  " — 

had  died  upon  the  heavy  air ;  they  had  smoked  their  good-night 
pipe;  had  "turned  in,"  and  unconditionally  surrendered  to  the 
drowsy  goddess  of  slumber,  when  over  yonder,  in  that  little  seven 
by  nine  telegraph  office,  click — click — click,  catches  the  prac 
tised  ear  of  the  operator,  and  told  of  a  great  event  being  heralded 
over  the  world.  A  joyous  shout  breaks  the  stillness  of  the  night, 
and  ULEE  HAS  SURRENDERED!"  thrills  to  the  remotest  corners 
of  the  camp. 

The  scene  that  ensued  beggars  description.  A  wild  delirium 
of  joy  seized  the  men,  and  cheer  on  cheer  rang  like  chiming  bells 
through  the  camps.  A  single  shot  was  let  off  by  some  one ; 
then  another — and  another ;  then  came  a  fusilade  of  fire-arms, 
put  in  as  thickly  as  rain  drops  pattering  upon  the  house  tops — 
succeeded  by  a  general  crash  of  all  the  guns  the  men  could  lay 
their  hands  upon,  uniting  in  one  stupendous  volume  of  sound. 

The  enthusiasm  was  contagious,  and  cannon  were  wheeled  into 
position  and  joined  in  the  matinee.  Soon  every  battery  was  in 


710  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

full  play,. rolling  out  their  sheets  of  flame,  arid  mingling  their 
thunders  with  the  crash  of  small  arms,  until  the  very  hills  shook 
as  if  in  terror.  A  thousand  torrents  of  flame  flashed  from  the 
guns,  and  blazing  bon-fires  lit  up  the  landscape  with  a  sapphire 
glow,  and  the  grand  and  terrible  seemed  commingled.  It  was 
rifles  and  revolvers,  muskets  and  columbiads — shooting  and  shout 
ing,  until  not  forty  rounds  of  ammunition  were  left  in  the  regi 
ment.  There  was  hand-shaking  and  hugging,  laughing  and  cry 
ing  for  very  joy.  Grave  old  burghers,  who  through  four  years 
of  tumult  had  remained  as  cool  as  icebergs,  could  not  control 
themselves  now — nor  did  they  try.  A  little  knot  of  Christian 
heroes  drifted  a.way  from  the  exultant  throng,  and  the  voice  of 
prayer  and  thanksgiving  went  up  from  their  midst,  praising  God 
that  the  black  war  clouds  were  now  being  rolled  away.  Then 
the  voice  of  singing  was  heard,  and  a  thousand  voices  caught  up 

the  chorus, 

"  For  we  are  going  home." 

The  war,  as  to  actual  campaigning,  was  now  practically  ended. 
The  battles  had  been  fought  and  the  national  armies  had  come 
out  of  the  contest  victorious.  A  few  days  in  camp  at  Blue 
Springs,  awaiting  the  result  of  negotiations  with  Johnston  for 
the  surrender  of  the  last  armed  force  of  rebellion,  and  then  the 
enquiry  naturally  arose,  "  When  will  we  go  home?"  At  length 
orders  came  to  proceed  to  Nashville,  and  the  command  marched 
to  Bull's  Gap,  eleven  miles  to  the  then  terminus  of  the  railroad. 
The  weather  was  exceedingly  warm,  the  march  hurried,  and  cases 
of  sun  stroke  and  in  one  instance  death  from  the  extreme  heat, 
was  reported.  At  last  the  reward  of  four  years  of  bloodshed  had 
been  wrenched  from  a  vindictive  foe  that  had  contended  desper 
ately  to  the  last.  The  record  of  blood  was  now  all  written,  and 
Peace,  the  object  of  all  these  years  of  toil  and  danger,  for  which 
the  nation  yearned,  seemed  now  at  hand,  and  the  political  out- 


LINCOLN'S  ASSASSINATION.  711 

look  was  bright  with  hope  and  promise.     Exultation   filled   the 
whole  atmosphere  and  warmed  the  souls  of  men. 

Alas !  these  bright  hopes  born  of  victory  were  destined  to  be 
suddenly  blasted.  Rebellion  had  not  yet  finished  its  fiendish 
work !  The  last  act  in  the  drama  of  treason  was  riot  played  until 
the  night  of  the  14th  of  April,  when,  following  the  report  of 
the  assassin's  pistol,  there  went  up  through  all  the  land  a  voice 
of  mourning  for  a  President  slain ! 

The  sad  tidings  of  President  Lincoln's  assassination  spread 
rapidly,  and  was  heard  by  the  soldiers  at  Blue  Springs  with  the 
profoundest  regret.  Their  joy  at  the  stamping  out  of  rebellion 
was  succeeded  by  overpowering  grief  at  the  great  calamity  that 
had  overtaken  the  country.  Not  a  patriot  but  felt  that  if  the 
fatal  missile  had  but  entered  his  heart,  and  thereby  saved  a  life 
so  precious,  the  sacrifice  would  have  been  cheerfully  made.  Old 
soldiers — sunburned,  grizzled  and  stern,  that  a  thousand  times 
and  in  a  thousand  forms  had  encountered  danger  and  death,  with 
out  the  quiver  of  a  muscle,  the  blanching  of  an  eye  or  a  murmur 
of  complaint — now  bowed  their  heads  and  wept  like  children ! 
History  has  failed  to  record  a  national  sorrow  so  deep,  so  univer 
sal,  so  heartfelt  and  profound,  as  filled  the  hearts  -of  the  people, 
and  followed  the  funeral  cortege  of  the  martyred  President  from 
Washington  to  Springfield,  and  to  the  final  resting  place  of  the 
dead. 

One  who  was  with  the  regiment  says,  uNo  pen  can  portray  the 
gloomy  forebodings  which  oppressed  us  all.  Our  conversation 
was  hushed,  and  oh  how  sad,  how  very  sad  our  hearts  !  In  all 
my  career  as  a  soldier,  nothing  is  so  indelibly  impressed  upon  my 
memory  as  the  deep  grief  which  pervaded  the  command." 

While  the  people  were  burying  the  body  of  their  President, 
business  almost  entirely  ceased.  Bells  tolled,  and  every  house 


712  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

was  draped  in  mourning.  Bishop  Simpson,  who  pronounced  the 
funeral  oration,  closed  as  follows  :  "  Hushed  is  thy  voice,  but 
its  echoes  of  liberty  are  ringing  through  the  world,  and  the  sons 
of  bondage  listen  for  joy.  Prisoned  thou  art  in  death,  and  yet 
thou  art  marching  abroad,  and  chains  and  manacles  are  bursting 
at  thy  touch.  We  crown  thee  as  our  martyr,  and  humanity 
enthrones  thee  as  her  triumphant  son.  Hero,  martyr,  friend, 
farewell!" 

The  regiment  proceeded  by  rail  via  Chattanooga  to  Nashville, 
and  encamped  in  a  beautiful  grove,  near  to  a  fine  spring  of  water, 
welling  up  from  unknown  depths  and  gushing  from  the  hill  side. 

Capt.  Campbell,  of  Company  B,  for  a  long  time  had  been  held 
by  the  enemy  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  then  placed  on  detached 
service,  until  after  the  death  of  Col.  Olson  and  the  return  of  the 
regiment  to  Nashville.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been  commis 
sioned  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  at  this  time  joined  the  regiment 
and  assumed  command.  He  had  not  been  connected  with  any 
of  the  ambitious  schemes  of  officers  seeking  promotion,  or  mixed 
up  in  the  difficulties  which  had  at  various  times  agitated  the  regi 
ment.  His  antecedents  were  creditable ;  his  character  as  an  offi 
cer  was  good,'  and  his  appointment  to  the  command  gave  very 
general  satisfaction. 

Gradually  the  shadows  which  clouded  the  hearts  of  men  at  the 
death  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  melted  away,  and  again  the  soldiers 
were  cheerful  and  happy.  Troops  were  being  mustered  from  the 
service  by  the  thousand,  and  each  day  the  men  of  the  36th  were 
allured  with  the  pleasing  hope  that  the  hour  of  their  final  muster 
and  discharge  was  near  at  hand.  Stern-visaged  War  no  longer 
stalked  abroad  in  the  land,  and  most  of  the  duties  pertaining  to 
active  campaigning  had  vanished,  with  its  ghostly  phantom.  The 
restless  spirits  in  the  regiment  could  not  be  kept  down,  and 


DANGEROUS    CAMP    SPORTS.  713 

various  expedients  for  fun  were  resorted  to,  to  pass  away  the  time. 
One  of  these,  which  for  a  time  had  its  run,  was  the  burying  of 
canteens,  filled  with  powder,  deeply  in  the  ground,  connecting 
them  with  a  fuse  or  train  of  powder,  and  in  the  middle  of  the 
night,  when  all  was  still,  came  an  explosion  that  would  set  the 
whole  camp  in  a  ferment.  At  once,  phantoms  of  torpedoes, 
buried  bombs,  &c.,  took  possession  of  their  startled  imaginations, 
and  none  knew  but  that  the  whole  of  the  late  Confederacy  was 
honeycombed  with  instruments  of  destruction,  ready  to  blow 
them  into  u  Kingdom  come  "  at  the  touch  of  a  match  or  the  mak 
ing  of  one  false  step. 

At  length  this  species  of  deviltry  was  repeated  too  often  for 
comfort.  The  scattering  of  dirt  and  falling  of  rocks  were  not 
always  as  safe,  to  life  and  limb,  as  desirable,  and  unusual  efforts 
were  made  to  detect  and  punish  the  rogues.  Col.  Campbell  took 
the  matter  in  hand,  and  patrolled  the  camp  until  nearly  midnight. 
He  had  just  passed  the  quarters  of  Company  B,  when  suddenly 
the  earth  opened  just  behind  his  coat  tails.  He  heard  a  fearful 
noise,  and  turning  around  saw  the  gravel-stones  flying  in  every 
direction.  He  hastened  to  the  spot — not  a  soul  was  in  sight. 
Peering  into  their  quarters,  every  man  was  snoring,  and  appa 
rently  sleeping  as  sweetly  as  sleep  the  innocent. 

Gen.  Stanley,  having  recovered  from  his  wounds,  resumed 
command  of  the  Corps.  Drilling,  parades  and  reviews  were  the 
order  of  the  day.  Orders  were  very  strict,  the  requirements  of 
the  revised  Army  Regulations  were  scrupulously  exacted,  and 
the  soldiers  were  obliged  to  be  very  circumspect  in  their  behavior. 

At  length  came  orders,  not  for  muster-out,  but  to  proceed  to 
New  Orleans,  and  on  the  15th  of  June  the  troops  proceeded  by 
rail  to  Johnsonville,  on  the  Tennessee  river,  where  transports 
were  in  readiness  to  take  them  to  their  destination  via  Cairo  and 

46 


714  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

the  now  historic  Father  of  waters.  The  trip  was  uneventful  and 
monotonous.  Soldiers  soon  tire  of  low,  woody  banks,  and  vast 
expanses  of  sand  exposed  to  view  on  the  subsidence  of  spring 
freshets.  One  day  on  a  lower  Mississippi  st.eamer,  as  it  steadily 
plows  its  way  through  turbid  waters  beaten  to  foam  beneath  the 
ponderous  steamer's  wheels,  is  sufficient  to  take  all  the  romance 
out  of  the  thing,  arid  leave  it  a  very  dull  and  stupid  affair. 
At  this  time  the  rude  impress  of  war  was  visible  on  every  hand. 
From  Cairo  to  the  Gulf,  dilapidated  ruins  marked  the  site  of 
former  mansions,  unsightly  weeds  indicated  neglected  plantations 
and  fields  run  to  waste,  and  all  the  works  of  man  along  the  fer 
tile  river  banks,  told  of  the  march  of  armies  and  the  rude  shock 
of  war.  Island  Ten,  Fort  Pillow,  Memphis,  Helena,  Vicksburg, 
Port  Hudson  and  Baton  Rouge  were  gazed  at,  more  for  the 
historic  events  connected  with  their  names,  than  their  pleas 
ant  situations  or  romantic  surroundings.  The  ever  changing 
scenery  on  the  rivers  and  lakes  of  the  North  and  East  have  more 
of  interest  and  enjoyment  to  the  tourist  in  a  single  day,  than  will 
be  found  in  weeks  of  voyaging  along  the  dead,  dreary  and  mon 
otonous  rivers  of  the  South.  The  steamers  reached  New  Orleans 
just  before  dark  June  23rd,  stopping  at  the  upper  wharves,  but 
early  the  following  morning  the  boats  dropped  down  the  river  five 
miles,  to  the  "old  battle  ground,"  where  the  troops  debarked  and 
established  their  camp. 

Why  the  4th  Army  Corps  was  not  mustered  out  of  service 
with  other  troops  early  in  the  year,  has  never  been  explained  to 
us.  Perhaps  in  the  process  of  reconstruction,  those  having  it  in 
charge  required  men  of  known  courage,  firmness  and  skill  to 
perform  the  delicate  work.  Some  there  were  who  considered 
their  moral  obligation  to  the  country  had  been  fulfilled  with  the 
dispersion  of  the  armed  cohorts  of  treason,  and  expressed  dis- 


PHIL.  SHERIDAN'S  PETS.  715 

satisfaction  at  being  held  for  further  service ;  but  by  far  the  larger 
portion,  much  as  they  would  have  delighted  to  revel  in  the  bliss  of 
home,  accepted  with  calm  philosophy  whatever  was  imposed  upon 
them,  without  a  murmur. 

Camp  Chalmette  was  located  on  beautiful  as  well  as  historic 
ground,  being  upon  the  old  battle  field  where  Gen.  Jackson  suc 
cessfully  repulsed  the  invaders  of  his  country  in  1814.  Many 
of  the  live  oaks  scattered  over  the  plantation  yet  bore  marks  of 
that  sanguinary  engagement.  Here  the  regiment  remained, 
basking  in  the  fierce  blaze  of  a  Southern  sun,  and  drinking  tepid 
Mississippi  River  water  for  some  weeks.  Gen.  Stanley  being 
placed  in  command  of  the  District  of  Texas,  the  4th  Corps  was 
ordered  to  proceed  by  sea  to  that  State  for  duty.  Transporta 
tion  being  limited,  it  required  a  full  month  to  effect  the  movement 
to  Metagorda  Bay.  At  the  special  request  of  Gen.  Sheridan, 
the  36th  was  left  at  New  Orleans,  for  head-quarter  and  other 
special  duty.  "Phil  Sheridan's  pets,"  was  the  appellation 
bestowed  upon  them  by  other  soldiers  envious  of  the  distinction 
and  favor  bestowed  upon  them.  Be  it  said  to  Gen.  Sheridan's 
honor,  that  he  never  forgot  the  gallant  soldiers  who  faithfully  fol 
lowed  him  from  State  to  State,  and  carried  their  battle  flag  through 
so  many  fields  of  blood.  During  his  entire  connection  with  it, 
the  36th  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the  favorite  regiment 
of  the  gallant  Phil  Sheridan. 

In  a  few  weeks  the  camp  among  the  live  oaks,  orange  groves 
and  half  tropical  vegetation  of  the  field  of  Chalmette  was 
abandoned,  and  the  regiment  removed  to  the  city  and  quartered 
in  the  Anchor  Cotton  Press,  on  Chapatola  street,  near  Depart 
ment  Headquarters.  At  this  time  business  was  stagnant  and  the 
city  dead.  The  prophecy  "  that  grass  would  grow  in  her  streets  " 
if  she  went  off  into  the  Rebellion,  was  literally  fulfilled.  As 


716  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS 

there  was  no  interference  by  the  military  in  local  affairs,  the  citi 
zens  began  to  return  to  their  former  avocations,  business  revived 
and  her  wharves  presented  the  bustle  of  former  days.  Those 
who  had  been  actively  engaged  in  rebellion  were  required  to  take 
the  Amnesty  Oath.  Some  yet  yearned  for  the  Confederacy  and 
came  up  to  the  Provost  Marshal's  office  with  countenances  and 
words  indicative  of  a  perversion  of  the  term  Amnesty  Oath  to 
"  d d  nasty  oath!" 

During  the  earlier  stages  of  the  Rebellion,  the  hatred  of  the 
South  towards  the  North  was  openly  expressed  by  all  classes, 
except  the  negroes  and  a  few  Unionists.  They  had  been  educated 
to  this  by  the  vituperation  and  falsehood  of  their  leaders  and 
vaporing  politicians,  and  for  years  had  despised  "  Northerners" 
with  an  intensity  only  equaled  by  their  hate.  When  they  com 
menced  the  war,  the  very  idea  that  their  States  would  be  traversed 
by  Union  armies  was  scouted.  u  Oh  no  !  her  sacred  soil  would 
never  be  touched  by  the  despised  Yankee."  It  took  many  a  stun 
ning  blow  and  many  signal  defeats  before  they  gave  up  the  delu 
sion  that  "one  Southerner  was  the  equal  in  battle  to  five  Yan 
kees."  Public  feeling  at  the  North  had  settled  down  to  the  deter 
mination  to  conquer  the  Rebellion  at  whatever  cost,  but  to  say 
that  a  feeling  of  hate  pervaded  the  minds  of  the  people  to  any 
great  extent,  would  be  falsifying  history.  But  in  the  South,  a 
different  feeling  existed, — one  of  malignity,  that  manifested  itself 
in  "bushwhacking;"  outrages  upon  prisoners,  and  the  dread  hor 
rors  of  Libby  and  Andersonville. 

Many,  after  the  surrender,  who  had  been  instrumental  in  stir 
ring  up  the  passions  of  the  people  and  "  firing  the  Southern 
heart,"  either  through  fear  of  a  "'judgment  to  come,"  or  because 
they  hnd  become  sincere  converts  to  their  own  teachings,  and 
always  actuated  by  hatred  of  the  land  that  gave  them  birth,  fled 


SOUTHERN   SELF   EX-PATRIATION.  717 

the  country,  like  Cain  after  killing  his  brother.  Those  who  had 
thus  voluntarily  expatriated  themselves,  were  generally  the 
vaunted  chivalry  we  had  heard  so  much  about,  but  seen  so  little 
of;  the  die-in-the-last-ditch  fellows,  whose  boastings,  threatenings 
and  denunciations  had  not  prevented  a  million  and  a-half  of  the 
hated  and  despised  "abolitionists"  from  pressing  heavily  the 
"sacred  soil."  It  was  not  a  fine  sense  of  honor  that  led  them 
to  abandon  the  country  and  desert  the  people  they  had  deluded 
and  finally  led  to  destruction,  for  when  they  became  traitors  they 
had  lost  honor.  But  their  arrogant  pride  and  insatiate  vanity 
would  not  permit  them  to  accept  the  inevitable,  make  wise  use 
of  the  future,  and  by  manly  effort  seek  to  repair  the  damages 
inflicted  by  the  war. 

Brazil,  Mexico  and  the  islands  of  the  Gulf,  afforded  them  a 
temporary  asylum.  Wherever  they  went  the  curse  of  God  fol 
lowed  them.  Nowhere  was  there  found  a  land  like  that  they  ha  1 
left,  or  a  government  like  that  they  had  sought  to  destroy. 
Gloomy,  dejected — often  pinched  by  poverty,  they  wandered  like 
ghostly  shadows,  neglected,  if  not  despised,  by  those  whose  hos 
pitality  they  sought.  Months  after,  when  they  saw  that  not  a 
drop  of  blood  was  shed ;  no  punishment  inflicted  upon  the  leaders 
in  the  great  crime  of  treason,  they  were  amazed  at  the  magnan 
imity  of  their  conquerors,  and  one  by  one,  homesick  and  repent 
ant,  their  chivalric  ideas  all  gone,  they  returned,  expressing  a 
willingness  to  accept  the  situation,  and  set  themselves  diligently 
at  work  to  reconstruct  what  but  a  fe\\  short  months  before  they 
were  zealous  to  tear  down.  Others  had  learned  nothing  from  the 
lessons  of  the  war,  and  returned  as  arrogant  and  rebellious  at 
heart  as  ever.  These  were  promptly  taken  and  sent  to  Fort  Jack 
son  under  arrest,  until  the  wishes  of  the  Government  in  their  capes 
were  known.  Eventually  all  were  released — some  to  peaceful 


718  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

citizenship,  others  to  foment  disturbances,  from  which  the  country 
to  this  day  is  not  free. 

Though  not  the  regular  provost  guard,  yet  in  the  delicate  and 
sometimes  responsible  duty  of  arresting  these  arch  Rebels  the 
36th  was  always  selected.  The  Rebel  archives  captured  in  the 
West  was  sent  to  Washington  under  a  guard  selected  from  the 
36th.  Paymasters  with  large  amounts  of  money,  often  sent  long 
distances,  and  to  remote  corners  of  the  department,  always  felt 
safe  if  escorted  and  guarded  by  the  36th  ;  or,  when  the  peace 
and  quiet  of  the  city  was  threatened,  the  36th  was  always  called 
upon  to  suppress  the  disturbance. 

In  the  performance  of  these  and  like  duties,  the  summer  months 
glided  away.  Autumn  came  with  its  golden  glory,  and  with  it 
the  time  for  the  final  muster  out  of  the  regiment  from  a  service 
to  which  for  more  than  four  years  they  had  added  bright  lustre. 
Before  proceeding  North,  Col.  Campbell  received  very  nattering 
letters  from  his  superior  commanders,  commendatory  of  himself 
and  of  the  regiment  which  he  commanded.  We  can  give  only 
extracts,  as  our  space  is  limited. 

Glorious  Phil  Sheridan  wrote  :  "  Before  your  departure  for 
your  home  in  the  North,  and  your  muster  out  of  the  service,  I 
desire  to  express  to  you  my  thanks  for  the  admirable  manner  in 
which  you  have  conducted  yourself  as  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman 
during  the  recent  rebellion.  I  have  known  you  personally  since 
the  earliest  part  of  the  war,  and  have  always  found  you  a  faith 
ful  and  patriotic  public  servant.  You  deserve  not  only  my 
thanks,  but  the  thanks  of  your  neighbors  and  the  country." 

Gen.  Sherman  never  paid  a  more  deserving  compliment  than 
when  he  penned  the  following  :  kt  During  the  past  four  years, 
so  eventful  in  the  history  of  our  beloved  country,  it  has  been  my 
fortune  to  be  associated  with  you  and  your  gallant  regiment.  I 


MUSTERED    OUT    OF   SERVICE.  719 

know  that  the  record  made  by  you  and  your  command  is  second 
to  none  in  its  devotion  and  loyalty  to  the  cause  for  which  you 
left  your  peaceful  homes.  The  bloody  fields  of  Pea  Ridge,  Per- 
ryville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge  and  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  together  with  the  closing  battles  in  the  West 
at  Franklin  and  Nashville,  have  shed  undying  glory  upon  the 
scarred  veterans  of  your  regiment.  When  I  look  back  upon  the 
past,  the  forms  of  brave  and  gallant  men  and  officers  who  laid 
down  their  lives  freely  upon  the  altar  of  their  country,  arise 
before  me  so  vividly  that  it  is  with  feelings  of  pride  and  sorrow 
that  I  recall  their  names.  Col.  Silas  Miller  and  Lieut.  Col.  Por 
ter  C.  Olson  should  be  household  names  amongst  the  veterans  of 
the  36th,  at  whose  head  they  yielded  up  their  lives  whilst  lead 
ing  them  to  victory." 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  New  Orleans, 
October  8th,  1865,  and  as  soon  as  transportation  could  be  obtained, 
it  proceeded  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  the  men  received  their  pay 
October  27th.  Within  the  next  succeeding  two  or  three  days  the 
veteran  survivors  of  an  organization  with  a  record  of  glory  unsur 
passed  by  none,  were  heartily  welcomed  home  by  expectant 
friends,  and  then  the  record  of  the  36iH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS 
was  closed. 

To  do  honor  to  their  returning  braves,  to  rejoice  and  welcome 
them  back  to  their  midst  as  citizens,  was  for  many  days  the  occu 
pation  of  the  people.  Not  so  young  in  years,  not  so  elastic  of 
step  as  four  years  before  when  they  left  Camp  Hammond,  and  in 
numbers  how  infinitely  less  !  but  in  experience  how  rich,  and 
how  greatly  endeared  to  welcoming  friends.  Oh,  it  .is  befitting 
these  war-scarred  heroes  to  meet  around  the  social  board,  and 
at  their  annual  reunions  call  up  reminiscences  of  the  past,  to  tell 
of  scenes  of  trial,  of  long  marches,  of  hissing  mirinie  balls,  of 


720 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 


screaming  shell,  of  gleaming  bayonet  and  of  the  cannon's  awful 
roar.  To  call  up  the  memory  of  fallen  comrades,  who  sleep  in 
honored  graves  far  away  from  loved  ones.  They  died  for  their 
country !  and  yet  their  graves  are  immortal  graves  !  Their  mem 
ory  will  be  cherished  by  men  as  long  as  love  for  exalted  services 
or  disinterested  patriotism  shall  sway  the  impulses  of  the  human 
heart. 

"  Oh  !  if  there  be  on  this  earthly  sphere, 
A  boon,  an  offering  Heaven  holds  dear, 
Sure  'tis  the  last  libation  liberty  draws 
From  the  heart  that  suffers  and  bleeds  in  her  cause." 


CHAPTER   XLV. 


COMPANY    A    CAVALRY. 


ROM  the  first,  the  operations  of  the  two  cav 
alry  companies  recruited  with  and  for  a  time 
forming  a  part  of  the  36th,  were  more  or  less 
detached  from  the  infantry ;  yet  so  far  as  we 
could  do  so,  we  have  not  separated  the  infan 
try  and  cavalry  portions  of  the  regiment,  but 
have  regarded  the  achievements  and  glory  of  each  as  the  common 
property  of  the  whole.  The  time  came  at  length  when  the  rad 
ical  difference  in  the  nature  of  the  duties  required  of  the  two  arms 
of  the  service,  and  from  their  widely  divergent  fields  of  action,  it 
became  necessary  in  order  to  preserve  the  harmony  of  the  story, 


COMPANY  A   CAVALRY.  721 

to  break  the  connection  and  drop  one  until  the  career  of  the  other 
had  been  recorded.  Notwithstanding  the  imperative  orders 
assigning  them  to  another  regiment,  and  years  of  hard  service, 
separated  from  each  other,  yet  the  cavalry  boys  never  forgot  the 
36th,  or  proved  unfaithful  to  their  first  love.  The  tie  that  bound 
them  to  the  regiment  was  too  strong  to  be  ever  broken,  and  to-day 
every  man  of  them  would  repel  with  scorn  any  proposition  to 
disconnect  their  history  and  their  achievements  from  the  story  of 
the  36th. 

In  accordance  with  the  original  design  of  this  work,  we  now 
return  to  the  cavalry.  We  will  not  recapitulate  or  refresh  the 
memories  of  our  readers  with  a  review  of  events  anterior  to  quit 
ting  Rienzi,  for  with  these  they  are  already  familiar.  We  pro 
pose  to  take  up  the  history  of  each  company  separately,  treating 
of  events  in  the  order  in  which  they  occurred,  and  giving  such 
details  as  we  are  able  to  gather  from  the  meagre  materials  at  hand. 
First  in  order  is  Company  A,  and  we  will  begin  at  the  point 
where  we  left  them  in  the  early  autumn  of  1862. 

At  that  time  the  bulk  of  the  Confederate  army  was  with  Bragg, 
operating  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  A  large  force,  however, 
remained  in  Mississippi,  under  the  command  of  Price  and  Van 
Dorn,  confronting  General  Grant  and  attempting  to  attack  in 
detail  the  detachments  scattered  over  Western  Tennessee  and 
Northern  Mississippi.  Learning  that  detachments  had  been  sent 
to  Cincinnati  and  Louisville,  and  believing  that  a  large  portion  of 
Grant's  army  had  been  drawn  eastward  and  the  country  denuded 
of  troops,  the  Confederate  commanders  regarded  this  as  a  favor 
able  opportunity  to  drive  out  the  National  forces  and  re-possess 
Corinth. 

Upon  the  development  of  this  plan,  Gen.  Grant  temporarily 
abandoned  Rienzi,  Jacinto,  Tuscumbia  and  other  posts,  and  con- 


722  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

centrated  their  garrisons  in  and  about  Corinth,  but  leaving  a 
detachment  at  luka,  under  Col.  Murphy,  with  instructions  if 
threatened  in  force,  to  destroy  such  stores  as  could  not  be  removed, 
and  to  fall  back  upon  the  main  army.  This  order  was  neglected, 
and  a  body  of  rebel  cavalry  dashed  upon  the  place,  drove  out  the 
garrison  and  captured  the  medical  and  commissary  stores  remain 
ing  there.  For  such  causeless  negligence  and  the  weak  defense 
interposed  to  the  Rebel  occupation,  Col.  Murphy  was  placed  in 
arrest,  but  one  of  those  changes  in  commanders  at  this  time  so 
prevalent,  effected  his  release,  and  subsequently  placed  him  in  a 
position  to  do  the  country  an  irreparable  injury. 

Price  was  now  well  to  the  front.  His  cavalry  raided  the  coun 
try,  and  by  frequently  assailing  the  picket  posts,  kept  the  army 
in  a  state  of  unrest.  It  was  determined  to  attack  him  on  three 
sides,  and  thus  insure  his  signal  defeat.  Gen.  Grant  marched  to 
the  north  of  luka  via  Burnsville,  to  strike  the  left  wing  of  the 
Rebel  army,  while  Gen.  Rosecrans,  with  Stanley's  and  Hamil 
ton's  Divisions,  pursued  a  more  southerly  route  through  Jacinto. 

Company  A  Cavalry  accompanied  the  latter,  and  though 
exposed  to  a  drenching  rain,  the  men  were  prompt  to  obey  every 
order,  and  generally  were  found  in  the  extreme  advance.  When 
told  that  the  object  of  the  expedition  was  to  attack  Price,  their 
old  enemy,  the  greatest  enthusiasm  prevailed,  and  they  pressed 
eagerly  forward,  encountering  the  enemy's  pickets  and  engaging 
them  at  three  P.  M.  of  the  18th.  A  severe  skirmish  ensued,  in 
which  the  Rebel  outposts  were  driven  in  with  some  loss. 

The  country  was  broken  and  badly  intersected  with  ravines. 
Captain  Jenks  was  directed  to  reconnoitre  the  road  leading  to 
the  left,  which  order  he  proceeded  to  execute  in  a  satisfactory 
manner.  So  dense  and  impenetrable  were  the  thickets,  that  no 
discoveries  were  made  until  reaching  open  ground,  a  mile  or  more 


BATTLE    OF   JACINTO.  723 

to  the  left  of  town.  The  enemy  was  found  strongly  posted,  and 
having  accomplished  the  object  of  the  reconnoisance,  and  not 
wishing  to  expose  his  men  needlessly  to  a  fire  that  was  fast 
becoming  uncomfortable,  the  Captain  returned  with  his  company 
arid  reported  the  result  of  his  observations.  While  engaged  in 
this  somewhat  hazardous  exploration,  the  horse  of  private  John 
C.  Goodwin  was  shot  from  under  him,  and  many  were  the  nar 
row  escapes  from  the  random  shots  of  the  enemy. 

The  action  soon  commenced  on  our  right,  where  the  5th  Iowa 
Infantry  was  drawn  into  an  ambuscade,  and  its  ranks  terribly 
thinned  by  a  galling  fire  from  an  unseen  foe.  Other  troops 
advanced  to  their  support,  and  the  engagement  became  general. 
The  thunder  of  artillery  and  crash  of  musketry  were  incessant, 
and  rolled  up  in  one  vast  volume  of  sound  that  rivaled  the  most 
stupendous  efforts  of  nature.  Our  cavalry  boys  described  it  as 
"perfectly  awful!"  For  two  hours  the  work  of  death  went 
steadily  on.  At  times  our  line  wavered  and  bent  before  the  heavy 
Confederate  masses  that  were  hurled  against  it.  In  one  of  these 
charges  an  Ohio  battery  was  captured,  after  every  horse  was  killed 
and  one  hundred  out  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  disabled. 
The  opportune  arrival  of  supports,  and  the  destructive  fire  of 
musketry  to  which  they  were  subjected,  forced  the  enemy  to 
retire  and  the  battery  was  regained.  During  the  progress  of  the 
battle  this  battery  was  taken  and  retaken  three  times,  but  at  the 
termination  of  the  engagement  remained  in  our  hands. 

The  battle  raged  with  unabated  fury  until  dark,  when  the  enemy 
fell  back,  leaving  the  Federal  forces  in  possession  of  the  field. 
The  men  slept  upon  their  arms,  expecting  a  renewal  of  the  engage 
ment  in  the  morning,  but  during  the  night  Price  retreated,  leav 
ing  about  three  thousand  dead,  wounded  arid  prisoners  in  our 
hands.  The  Federal  losses  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and  four- 


724  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

teen,  among  which  were  the  following  members  of  Company  A  : 
Nathaniel  Duff,  wounded,  since  dead  ;  and  Martin  Glenn. 

Failing  to  effect  anything  by  a  division  of  their  forces,  the  two 
Confederate  commanders  formed  a  junction  at  Ripley  and  pre 
pared  for  a  movement  upon  Corinth.  Gen.  Rosencrans  proceeded 
to  the  latter  place  on  the  27th,  accompanied  by  Company  A  as 
escort,  and  having  in  the  meantime  been  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  Major  General,  he  assumed  the  main  command,  and  called  to 
his  assistance  the  garrisons  from  neighboring  posts.  Yet  with  all 
his  efforts  he  was  able  to  muster  only  about  twenty  thousand 
men  to  hold  the  position  against  more  than  twice  that  number. 
But  elaborate  fortifications  had  been  recently  constructed  in  addi 
tion  to  those  formerly  erected  by  Beauregard,  by  the  aid  of  which 
the  General  hoped  to  combat  successfully  any  numbers  the  enemy 
might  send  against  him. 

On  the  3rd,  our  outposts  on  the  Chewalla  road  were  driven  in 
with  considerable  loss.  Fighting  continued  all  day,  and  being 
in  the  midst  of  thick  timber  our  skirmishers  maintained  a  stub 
born  resistance  and  retired  slowly,  in  the  evening  taking  posi 
tion  near  Corinth,  under  cover  of  the  forts.  These  were  very 
strong,  and  located  upon  ground  unusually  favorable  for  the  use 
of  artillery.  During  the  night  the  enemy  succeeded  in  posting 
several  batteries  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  town,  and 
before  daylight,  guided  by  the  blaze  of  our  early  camp  fires, 
they  threw  a  number  of  shells  with  such  accuracy  as  to  fill  the 
non-combatants  (of  which  there  were  large  numbers)  with  dis 
may.  At  daybreak  a  charge  was  made  upon  these  guns,  one  or 
two  of  them  captured  and  the  rest  withdrawn.  Heavy  skirmish 
ing  continued  until  ten  o'clock,  when  Price's  columns  in  dense 
masses  appeared  upon  the  Bolivar  road,  and  moved  with  such 
incredible  velocity  and  momentum  as  to  threaten  our  army  with 


ACTION   AT    CORINTH.  725 

extermination.  A  dozen  batteries  directed  their  heaviest  fire 
against  these  crowding  masses,  causing  huge  vacancies  in  their 
ranks,  which  were  no  sooner  made  than  filled  again.  The  enemy 
bent  their  heads  to  the  pitiless  storm,  brushed  back  the  Federal 
skirmish  line  without  an  effort,  and  fell  upon  the  reserves  with 
merciless  fury,  driving  Davie's  Division  from  its  hastily  con 
structed  breastworks,  and  swarmed  around  the  forts  which  like 
volcanoes  were  pouring  a  ruinous  shower  of  shot  and  shell  into 
their  devoted  ranks.  Clearing  every  obstruction,  they  at  last 
gained  possession  of  Fort  Richardson,  but  while  yet  cheering 
over  their  fancied  success,  an  Illinois  infantry  regiment  dashed 
in  among  them  and  hurled  them  from  the  fort. 

The  head  of  one  of  the  charging  columns  broke  through  the 
rifle  pits,  passed  between  the  forts  and  penetrated  to  the  center 
of  the  town,  and  for  a  few  moments  held  possession  of  Gen. 
Rosencrans'  headquarters.  A  battery  that  had  been  stationed 
near,  retired  to  an  elevated  position  in  the  rear,  and  then  open 
ing  upon  them  with  grape  and  shell  at  short  range,  forced  them 
back,  when  being  assailed  in  front  and  flank  by  our  infan 
try,  now  advancing  all  along  the  line,  they  retreated  to  the. 
forests.  Price's  entire  column  was  eventually  broken  and  his  men 
throwing  away  their  arms,  scattered  in  dismay.  A  number  of 
the  enemy's  dead  were  found  in  front  of  Gen.  Rosencrans'  quar 
ters — one  laying  near  the  main  entrance. 

Scarcely  was  this  charge  repulsed,  when  Van  Dorn  appeared 
upon  the  Chewalla  road.  He  had  been  delayed  in  his  advance  by 
unlocked  for  obstructions  and  was  too  late  to  co-operate  with 
Price.  His  command  was  largely  composed  of  Texans  and  Mis- 
issippians,  whose  gallantry  and  daring  exceeded  anything  the  Fed 
erals  had  heretofore  encountered.  Advancing  in  the  teeth  of  a 
withering  fire,  without  a  tremor  or  break  in  their  lines,  and  with 


72H  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

a  courage  that  seemed  irresistable,  they  reached  the  foot  of  our 
works.  A  Texan  colonel,  carrying  a  flag  at  the  head  of  his  bri 
gade,  lead  the  assault.  He  had  leaped  the  ditch  and  entered  our 
lines,  when  he  fell,  pierced  by  a  dozen  balls.  His  followers 
paused,  and  a  portion  of  Gen  Stanley's  Division  arose  and  poured 
a  terrific  fire  upon  the  Texans  and  drove  them  back.  Supports 
coming  up,  they  came  on  a  second  time,  and  a  severe  hand-to- 
hand  fight  ensued,  in  which  the  bayonet  was  freely  used.  At 
length  every  assault  was  repulsed,  and  in  three  hours  the  dis- 
comfitted  foe  was  in  full  retreat,  followed  and  galled  by  a  fire 
from  the  forts  and  batteries,  which  sent  blazing  shell  through  the 
forest  into  the  disordered  mass  of  bleeding  humanity,  struggling 
to  get  away  from  the  cruel  missiles  that  were  rending  them  to 
pieces.  Says  one,  "  their  flight  could  be  traced  by  blood-stained 
garments,  mats  of  human  hair  and  pools  of  blood,  where  the  men 
had  lain  down  and  died." 

We  buried  1,423,  including  some  of  their  most  valued  officers, 
and  their  wounded  numbered  over  5,000.  Their  aggregate  loss 
amounted  to  9,423,  while  that  of  the  Federals  reached  2,359. 
Many  thousand  stand  of  arms  and  several  pieces  of  artillery  were 
'left  in  our  hands.  Very  few  battles  of  the  war  were  more  obsti 
nately  contested  or  so  bloody  as  the  battle  of  Corinth. 

Company  A  took  a  prominent  part  in  this  engagement  and  was 
constantly  flying  from  point  to  point  where  most  needed,  and 
during  the  attack  upon  headquarters,  were  warmly  engaged.  .In 
this  charge  Orrin  Squires  was  severely  wounded  in  the  hip,  from 
the  effects  of  which  he  was  subsequently  discharged. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  5th,  Company  A  started 
in  pursuit  and  closely  followed  the  flying  enemy  for  three  days, 
capturing  a  great  many  prisoners  and  a  large  amount  of  muni 
tions  of  war.  At  Ripley,  Gen.  Rosencrans  received  orders  to 


COMPLIMENTS   FROM    ROSECRANS.  727 

give  up  the  pursuit,  and  on  the  tenth,  with  his  escort  returned  to 
Corinth. 

Several  members  of  the  company  were  mentioned  by  name  in 
general  orders  for  their  coolness,  efficiency  and  bravery  ;  among 
others,  private  Henry  B.  Douglas,  who  was  on  detached  service. 
We  copy  from  the  Report :  "  It  is  due  to  private  H.  B.  Douglas, 
of  Company  A,  36th  Illinois  Cavalry,  who  acted  as  my  orderly, 
both  in  this  battle  and  that  of  luka,  to  say  that  no  man  was 
exposed  to  more  danger  or  exhibited  more  bravery  than  he  did 
in  the  performance  of  his  duties."  The  whole  company  was 
highly  complimented  by  Gen.  Rosencrans,  both  personally  and 
in  general  orders.  They  were  in  the  saddle  almost  constantly 
for  ten  days  and  nights.  Their  horses  were  worn  out,  and  by 
the  General's  order,  one  hundred  fresh  ones  were  turned  over  to 
the  company  for  their  use 

About  the  last  of  October  Gen.  Rosencrans  was  ordered  to 
take  command  of  the  "Army  of  the  Cumberland,"  superceding 
Buell,  whose  management  of  the  campaign  against  Bragg  had 
caused  dissatisfaction.  He  tried  hard  to  take  his  escort  with 
him,  even  apptying  to  the  Secretary  of  War  for  permission  to 
do  so,  but  was  refused.  Company  A  had  become  very  much 
attached  to  the  General,  were  sorry  at  the  separation,  and  the 
kind  relations  existing  between  them  are  among  the  pleasant 
memories  of  the  war. 

Gen.  Grant's  army  was  now  designated  as  the  13th  Army 
Corps,  and  being  reinforced,  a  movement  was  projected  against 
Price  and  Van  Dorn,  who,  after  their  disastrous  repulse  at  Cor 
inth,  had  collected  the  fragments  of  their  broken  army  in  the 
vicinity  of  Holly  Springs.  Gen.  Grant  advanced  from  Bolivar 
and  Jackson  along  the  line  of  railroad,  on  which  he  depended 
for  supplies.  On  the  29th  of  November  the  advance  under  Gen 


728  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Hamilton  entered  Holly  Springs  unopposed,  the  enemy  retreat 
ing  to  a  strongly  fortified  position  on  the  Tallahatchee  river. 
Holly  Springs  was  made  a  supply  depot,  and  a  large  amount  of 
munitions,  commissary  and  quarter-master's  stores  were  collected, 
sufficient  for  the  wants  of  a  large  army. 

Simultaneous  with  Grant's  advance,  Gen.  Hovey  crossed  the 
Mississippi  from  Helena  with  a  force  from  Curtis'  department, 
to  co-operate  in  the  movement  and  strike  Van  Dorn  in  flank  and 
rear.  His  cavalry  encountered  the  enemy  at  Oakland,  and  in 
the  engagement  that  ensued  was  successful.  This  caused  Van 
Dorn  to  abandon  his  position  on  the  Tallahatchee  and  retreat 
southward  toward  Jackson,  Gen.  Grant  closely  following  as  far 
as  Oxford. 

The  Rebel  Generals  realizing  their  inability  to  successfully 
resist  the  Federal  advance,  determined  to  divert  Grant  from  his 
purpose  by  demonstrating  in  his  rear.  Accordingly  Van  Dorn 
with  twenty-two  regiments  of  cavalry,  charged  into  Holly 
Springs,  capturing  its  garrison^  with  an  immense  amount  of 
government  property.  Col.  Murphy  was  in  command  of  the 
post,  and  though  warned  of  the  contemplated  attack,  made  no 
preparations  for  defense  or  effort  to  repulse  it.  He  had  one 
thousand  five  hundred  men  in  garrison,  and  in  a  few  hours  could 
have  drawn  reinforcements  from  neighboring  posts  and  been 
ready  with  three  thousand  men  to  confront  the  enemy.  Instead  of 
which,  scarcely  a  picket  was  posted,  his  men  were  sleeping  in 
their  quarters  unconscious  of  danger,  and  with  not  a  shot  fired  or 
note  of  alarm  given .  The  garrison  was  only  aroused  to  a  knowledge 
of  the  situation  by  the  yells  and  noise  of  charging  squadrons,  and 
one  by  one  they  were  taken  prisoners  as  they  issued  from  their 
quarters  in  a  drowzy,  half  dazed  condition  of  men  just  awaken 
ing  from  sleep.  A  few  companies  of  the  2nd  Illinois  Cavalry, 


PROMOTIONS    OF   JENKS    AND   WILLIS.  729 

after  a  gallant  fight,  cut  their  way  through  the  enemy  and  made 
their  escape,  the  rest  were  obliged  to  surrender,  and  were  paroled 
on  the  spot.  A  general  destruction  of  military  stores,  including 
a  number  of  the  principal  buildings,  then  took  place.  The 
amount  of  property  thus  burned  was  valued  at  $2,500,000, 
exclusive  of  one  thousand  bales  of  cotton. 

Among  those  captured  and  paroled,  were  seventeen  members 
of  Company  A,  viz  :  Sergt.  Jerome  B.  Marlett,  Sergt.  Henry  B. 
Douglas,  Corp.  James  Surby,  John  C.  Goodwin,  Fred.  Elderkin, 
Eugene  D.  Odell,  Richard  Larkin,  William  Fox,  E.  Newell, 
Lawrence  Tucker,  Arnold  Sarbrock,  Irwin  Benton,  James  Bar 
ber,  Allen  Mo  wry,  Nicholas  Hettinger,  James  Kirkpatrick  and 
James  Allen.  They  had  been  sent  by  Gen.  Hamilton  from  the 
front  for  horses  to  supply  the  waste  of  the  campaign,  and  arrived 
at  Holly  Springs  just  in  time  to  be  taken.  Arnold  Sarbrock 
managed  to  get  out  of  the  place,  and  there  was  a  fair  prospect 
of  escape,  when  he  was  beset  by  a  squad  of  armed  citizens,  who 
took  him  prisoner,  and,  hurrying  back  to  town,  he  was  paroled 
with  the  others. 

About  this  time,  Capt.  Jenks  was  promoted  to  the  Lieutenant 
Colonelcy  of  the  36th,  and  subsequently  left  the  company  to 
assume  the  duties  of  his  new  position,  bearing  with  him  the 
good  will  of  the  men,  whom  he  had  so  ably  commanded  from  the 
time  of  their  enlistment.  As  a  gentleman  and  gallant  soldier, 
his  memory  will  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  the  sur 
viving  members  of  Company  A.  Lieut.  George  A.  Willis  was 
promoted  to  the  vacant  Captaincy.  For  the  able  manner  in  which 
he  had  discharged  the  duties  of  Adjutant,  the  company  enter 
tained  a  high  regard  for  him,  and  his  subsequent  career  was  cred 
itable  to  himself  and  highly  satisfactory  to  the  command.  Sec 
ond  Lieut.  A.  C.  Ferre  had  been  previously  promoted  to  First 


730  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Lieutenant,  and  Sergt.  Albert  Collins  to  the  rank  of  Second  Lieu 
tenant. 

On  Gen.  Rosencrans'  leaving  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi, 
Company  A  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Hamilton  for  escort  duty, 
and  accompanied  that  officer  to  Holly  Springs  and  Oxford,  in  the 
expedition  designed  to  operate  in  the  rear  of  Yicksburg,  but 
which,  owing  to  the  incompetence  and  perfidy  of  Col.  Murphy, 
was  abandoned.  During  this  weary  campaign,  Company  A  had 
plenty  of  hard  riding,  scouting  and  skirmishing  to  do,  until  after 
its  return  to  Grand  Junction. 

From  Grand  Junction,  the  Company  proceeded  by  easy  marches 
to  Memphis — reaching  the  city  Jan.  llth,  1863 — and  encamped 
in  its  outskirts.  In  a  day  or  two,  they  were  ordered  to  move 
into  the  city  and  report  to  Gen.  Hamilton  as  Headquarters 
Guard.  For  the  next  three  months  their  duties  as  soldiers  were 
monotonous  and  uneventful.  The  boys'  diaries  describe  the 
weather  as  "absolutely  fearful."  At  one  time  the  snow  was 
eight  inches  deep.  This  was  succeeded  by  days  of  .sunshine  ;  of 
rain  and  mud  of  unknown  depths.  At  the  foot  of  the  bluffs  on 
which  the  city  is  situated,  the  turbid  water  of  the  Mississippi 
rolled  majestically  gulfward,  bearing  on  its  bosom  thousands  of 
steamers,  transporting  troops  and  supplies  to  the  armies  menac 
ing  Vicksburg,  and  for  months  our  cavalry  company  were  only 
passive  spectators  of  the  stupendous  events  transpiring  on  the 
banks  of  the  great  river.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Hamilton  was  suc 
ceeded  in  the  command  at  Memphis  by  Gen.  Hurlburt.  Many 
things  of  an  unpleasant  character  grew  out  of  this  change  of 
commanders,  resulting  in  the  resignation  of  Hamilton  arid  his 
retirement  from  the  service. 

An  important  change  was  made  in  the  status  of  the  company, 
near  the  close  of  the  preceding  year,  by  an  order  of  Gov.  Yates, 


15TH    ILLINOIS   CAVALRY.  731 

consolidating  the  various  independent  companies  from  Illinois 
into  a  regiment  designated  as  the  15th  Illinois  Cavalry.  The 
following  extract  is  sufficient  for  our  purpose,  and  will  show  the 
scope  and  purpose  of  the  order. 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS,  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,     ^) 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  )      ADJT.  GEN.'S  OFFICE. 

No.  250.          /          SPRINGFIELD,  DEC.  25,  1862.  j 

The  companies  of  Illinois  Volunteer  Cavalry  organized  and 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and  now,  or  lately, 
commanded  by  the  officers  herein  designated,  are  hereby  attached 
to  the  battalion  of  Illinois  Cavalry  now  commanded  by  Major 
Warren  Stewart. 

Capt.  WILLIAM  FORD,  Company  A  Cavalry,  53rd  Regiment 
Vol.  Infantry. 

Capt.  ALBERT  JENKS,  Company  A  Dragoons,  36th  Regiment 
111.  Vol.  Infantry. 

Capt.  SAMUEL  B.  SHERER,  Company  B  Dragoons,  36th  Reg 
iment,  111.  Vol.  Infantry. 

Capt.  W.  C.  WILDER,  Kane  County  Cavalry,  formerly  Capt. 
C.  B.  Dodson. 

Capt.  OSCAR  H.  HUNTLEY,  Company  K,  1st  Regiment  111. 
Cavalry. 

Capt.  FRANKLIN  T.  GILBERT,  Company  A  Cavalry,  52nd 
Regiment  111.  Vol.  Infantry. 

Which  said  companies,  with  those  heretofore  forming  the  com 
mand  of  Major  Stewart,  aforesaid,  and  one  other,  now  at  Camp 
Yates,  Springfield,  Illinois,  are  declared  to  form  the  15th  Cav 
alry  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers.  *  *  *  * 

This  order  was  confirmed  by  the  War  Department,  and  there 
after  Company  A  Cavalry  was  designated  on  the  army  rolls  as 
Company  I,  15th  Illinois  Cavalry.  The  change  was  distasteful 
to  the  boys,  whose  attachment  and  love  for  the  36th  became  more 
enduring  as  the  months  rolled  on.  Between  the  infantry  and 
cavalry  existed  a  fraternal  feeling,  cemented  by  many  brilliant 
achievements  and  months  of  service  together  on  common  fields 


732  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

of  glory.  The  change  excited  but  little  feeling,  so  long  as  the 
Company  remained  on  detached  service ;  but  when  on  the  1st  of 
April,  1863,  it  was  ordered  to  report  to  Major  Wilson,  and  was 
thereafter  to  be  attached  to  his  battalion,  the  supreme  disgust  of 
the  men  was  openly  expressed.  No  longer  were  they  to  put  on 
style  about  headquarters,  but  were  to  share  the  sterner  duties  of 
troopers'  lives. 

The  routine  of  guard  and  picket  duty  was  now  and  then  broken 
into  by  dashes  of  Rebel  cavalry  upon  our  outposts.  In  one  of 
these  sudden  eruptions  the  15th  lost  three  men  made  prisoners 
and  two  severely  wounded.  To  put  an  end  to  these  annoyances, 
an  expedition  into  Secessia  via  Hernando  was  ordered,  and  on 
the  21st  of  April  a  force  of  two  thousand,  horse,  foot  and  artil 
lery,  set  out  from  Memphis  for  their  chastisement.  The  cavalry 
was  under  the  command  of  Major  Wilson,  with  Capt.  Willis' 
Company  in  advance.  About  ten  miles  out  a  Rebel  flag  of  truce 
from  Gen.  Chalmers  was  met.  The  flag  was  not  allowed  to  pro 
ceed,  to  discover  the  nature  and  strength  of  the  expedition,  but 
was  turned  back  with  an  answer  befitting  the  occasion. 

This  matter  disposed  of,  the  expedition  continued  to  Foster's 
plantation,  the  home  of  a  notorious  guerrilla  captain.  His  farm 
was  pretty  thoroughly  swept  of  mules,  horses  and  negroes.  At 
Hernando  a  squad  of  "  butternuts  "  wrere  observed  running  for 
dear  life  into  the  woods.  The  boys  gave  chase,  and  succeeded 
in  inducing  a  dozen  or  more  to  return  as  prisoners  of  war,  being 
pursuaded  thereto  by  a  few  flourishes  of  sabres  and  six-shooters, 
by  men  disposed  to  use  them  should  other  arguments  fail. 

The  next  day  a  flag  of  truce  arrived  from  Memphis,  and  Capt. 
Willis  and  his  company  was  detailed  to  carry  it  through.  The 
Sunflower  river  was  too  deep  to  be  forded,  and  after  some  delay 
it  was  crossed  in  a  "  dug  out,"  that  was  found  on  the  other  side. 


ESCORTING   THE   FLAG   OF   TRUCE.  733 

This  was  secured  by  one  of  the  men  passing  over  on  the  over 
hanging  branches  of  trees.  Once  across  and  fairly  within  the 
enemy's  country,  both  citizens  and  soldiers  on  picket  seemed 
ignorant  of  the  meaning  of  a  white  flag,  and  either  fled  to  the 
woods  like  will-o'-the-wisps,  or  stood  quaking  with  fear  until 
made  to  understand  that  the  visit  was  not  a  hostile  one. 

During  the  day  the  company  fell  in  with  a  battalion  of  two 
hundred  Rebel  cavalry,  commanded  by  one  Capt.  Mitchell,  who, 
upon  becoming  acquainted  with  the  object  of  the  mission,  under 
took  to  escort  the  flag  to  Gen.  Chalmers'  headquarters.  The 
two  commands  proceeded  together,  the  blue  and  the  gray  inter 
mixed,  apparently  on  the  best  of  terms,  canvassing  the  merits  of 
the  respective  armies,  trading  horses,  jack-knives  and  counter 
feit  Confederate  money  for  greenbacks.  One  of  the  men  writes, 
"  I  think  a  Rebel  Lieutenant  was  considerably  gulled  in  a  horse 
trade."  Before  separating,  the  Confederate  Captain,  who  like 
many  of  his  confreres  was  given  to  boasting  of  always  being  vic 
torious  over  the  Yankees,  challenged  Major  Wilson  and  Capt. 
Willis  to  meet  him  at  a  designated  point  one  week  from  that  day, 
with  fifty  men.  The  challenge  was  promptly  accepted,  and 
Major  Wilson  and  Capt.  Willis  were  on  time  at  the  appointed 
place,  but  the  braggart  Capt.  Foster  failed  to  put  in  an  appear 
ance,  thereby  showing  his  wisdom  as  well  as  a  want  of  courage 
in  keeping  at  a  safe  distance  from  an  equal  number  of  Federal 
troopers.  They,  however,  did  not  return  empty  handed,  but 
took  prisoners  a  Rebel  Lieutenant  and  a  squad  of  men  who  were 
found  prowling  over  the  country.  None  of  them  could  give  any 
information  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  the  boasting  Captain. 

Early  in  the  spring  the  theatre  of  active  operations  was  trans 
ferred  to  Vicksburg,  then  the  only  bar  to  the  free  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi.  The  war  in  other  portions  of  the  West  Ian- 


734  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

guished,  and  every  man  that  could  be  spared  was  sent  to  the 
front.  A  vast  army  gathered  around  the  fated  city  to  assist  in 
its  reduction. 

At  length  Gen.  Lauman's  Division  including  Capt.  Willis' 
Cavalry  Company,  received  marching  orders,  and  on  the  17th  it 
embarked  on  the  steamer  Luminary,  one  of  a  numerous  fleet  of 
transports,  and  moved  southward  towards  Vicksburg,  a  point 
above  all  others  of  absorbing  interest  to  the  country.  The  fleet 
was  convoyed  by  a  single  gun  boat,  for  the  river,  though  in  our 
possession,  was  not  entirely  safe,  as  was  evidenced  by  the  shot- 
riddled  pilot  houses  on  most  of  the  steamers  then  navigating 
the  lower  Mississippi. 

In  rounding  a  bend  just  before  reaching  Greenville,  a  village 
on  the  eastern  or  Mississippi  side  of  the  river,  after  the  gunboat 
and  a  number  of  the  transports  had  passed,  a  dozen  shot  were 
fired  in  quick  succession  into  the  Crescent  City  from  a  concealed 
battery  on  shore,  and  a  number  of  men  were  killed  and  wounded. 
The  Luminary  was  a  short  distance  behind,  and  instead  of 
steaming  down  past  the  battery  and  receiving  its  share  of  shot, 
headed  for  the  shore  above.  Horses  were  saddled,  and  arrange 
ments  made  for  landing  quickly  as  soon  as  the  gang  planks  were 
shoved  out.  Twenty  or  thirty  troopers,  mostly  from  Capt. 
Willis'  Company,  and  under  lead  of  that  oflicer  and  Lieut. 
Ferre,  mounted  their  horses  and  prepared  for  a  tilt  with  the 
Johnnies.  One  man  belonging  to  another  company,  while  lead 
ing  his  horse  from  the  boat,  was  crowded  from  the  gang-plank 
by  his  horse  and  drowned. 

The  force  that  was  firing  into  the  boats  was  composed  of  a 
mixed  command  of  mounted  guerrillas,  cavalry  and  artillery, 
numbering  about  three  hundred.  Across  the  bend  ran  a  levee, 
and  by  following  this,  it  was  thought  to  get  in  rear  of  the  bat- 


INVOLUNTARY  EXPLOIT  ON  SHORE.          735 

tery  and  cut  off  the  enemy's  retreat,  whenever  the  gunboat  should 
turn  back  and  shell  them  from  their  position.  About  half  a  mile 
from  the  landing,  a  second  levee  intersected  the  first  at  right 
angles.  The  company  entered  an  extensive  plantation,  with 
numerous  corn  and  cotton  fields,  and  were  riding  rapidly  along, 
when  they  were  regaled  by  a  volley  from  behind  the  second  levee. 
Armed  only  with  sabres  and  revolvers,  Capt.  Willis  ordered  the 
men  to  draw  sabres  and  charge,  which  was  done  with  a  yell.  The 
enemy  did  not  wait  to  feel  the  temper  of  our  weapons,  but  broke 
and  fled  across  the  fields,  with  our  boys  at  their  heels  in  close 
pursuit.  A  poorly  mounted  butternut  fell  somewhat  behind,  and 
Corp.  Beebe,  being  well  mounted,  went  for  him  with  his  heavy 
dragoon  sabre,  seeing  which,  the  badly  scared  "Johnnie"  yelled 
to  his  companions,  "  For  God's  sake,  boys,  hold  on,  and  drive 
this  Yank  away  from  me,  or  I'm  gone  up,  sure  !"  A  few  sur 
rendered  ;  others  scattered  in  every  direction — through  woods 
and  swamps,  over  fences  and  fields,  until  the  frightened  fugitives 
joined  their  battery,  and  then  their  numbers  were  too  great  and 
their  position  too  strong  to  be  attacked  successfully.  The  wild 
screech  of  shell  added  to  the  excitement,  and  for  a  time  made 
things  lively.  Shot  whizzed  in  close  proximity  to  the  ears  of 
the  men,  but  no  one  was  hurt. 

A  battalion  of  infantry  was  also  landed,  and  assisted  in  chas 
ing  the  battery  five  miles.  On  their  return,  learning  that  bush 
whacking  and  firing  into  boats  was  the  principal  occupation  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Greenville,  some  houses  were  fired  and  part  of 
the  town  destroyed.  This  act,  by  some,  was  attributed  to  Com 
pany  A,  but  it  was  well  understood  at  the  time  that  the  infantry 
alone  were  guilty  of  the  burning. 

Re-embarking,  the  fleet  reached  Young's  Point  on  the  19th  of 
May,  the  day  succeeding  the  investment  of  Vicksburg.  The  city 


736  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

was  in  plain  sight,  and  the  flashing  of  guns,  the  sullen  roar  and 
smoke  of  battle,  filled  the  men  with  awe.  All  doubts  were  dis 
pelled  about  their  being  in  time  to  share  in  the  siege  and  fall  of 
the  beleagured  city. 

This  extraordinary  siege  was  maintained  for  nearly  two  months. 
By  night  and  by  day  great  guns  were  pounding  heavily  at  its 
gates.  Many  valuable  lives  were  sacrificed,  and  it  seemed  at  times 
as  if  the  great  tragedy  would  never  end.  But  as  the  siege  pro 
gressed,  men  became  more  hopeful  and  confident.  The  hills  on 
which  the  city  is  located  are  miniature  mountains  and  of  them 
selves  continuous  lines  of  almost  impregnable  fortifications.  We 
cannot  enter  into  details  of  the  siege,  or  attempt  to  record -the 
many  gallant  deeds  enacted  in  field  and  intrenchment  during 
its  progress. 

On  the  20th,  the  transports  proceeded  up  the  Yazoo  to  Ham's 
Bluff,  and  Lauman's  Division  debarked,  and,  passing  around 
the  rear  of  those  already  in  position,  was  assigned  to  the  extreme 
left  of  the  line.  A  portion  of  the  company  were  detailed  as 
orderlies  and  despatch-bearers,  and  were  on  detached  service 
during  the  siege.  One  of  these,  John  W.  Evarts,  witnessed  the 
tragic  death  of  Capt.  Bradley,  an  aid  to  Gen.  Lauman.  They 
were  riding  together  on  the  grand  rounds  of  picket  inspection. 
About  ten  o'clock  at  night,  in  passing  an  advanced  post,  a  shot 
was  fired  from  the  bushes  on  the  roadside,  and  a  rifle  ball  pene 
trated  the  Captain's  heart.  He  fell  from  his  horse,  uttering  the 
words,  "I'm  killed!"  and  was  dead.  Evidently  the  shot  was 
fired  by  a  sharp-shooter,  laying  in  ambush  to  pick  off  any  that 
should  pass  by.  Such  acts,  commencing  with  the  assassination 
of  Ellsworth,  and  carried  on  by  the  Rebels,  branded  them  and 
their  cause  as  infamous. 


PRAISE    OF    CAPT.    WILLIS    AND    COMPANY.  737 

The  cavalry,  except  those  detailed  for  orderlies  and  escort, 
were  combined  in  one  division,  and  employed  in  scouring  the 
country  in  rear  of  Vicksburg,  and  watching  the  movements  of 
Gen.  Johnston, who  was  concentrating  a  force  at  Jackson  and  Yazoo 
City,  with  the  avowed  object  of  raising  the  siege  and  rescuing 
Pemberton  from  his  dilemma.  His  efforts  to  carry  material  aid 
by  stealth  into  Vicksburg  were  thwarted,  and  at  one  time  the  cav 
alry  intercepted  and  captured  about  a  bushel  of  gun  caps  that 
were  being  secretly  conveyed  to  Pemberton. 

The  superior  ability  of  the  Rebel  Gen.  Johnston,  was  fully 
recognized,  and  he,  of  all  the  Confederate  commanders,  was  the 
only  one  Gen.  Grant  had  any  reason  to  fear.  Gen.  Sherman, 
his  ablest  subordinate,  was  selected  to  guard  the  rear  and  coun 
teract  any  movement  looking  to  the  relief  of  Vicksburg.  Capt. 
Willis  and  his  company  were  almost  constantly  in  the  saddle, 
scouting  the  country  and  skirmishing  with  the  advance  of  John 
ston's  army.  It  was  engaged  in  several  artillery  duels  near  the 
Big  Black,  and  elicited  much  praise  from  Gen.  Sherman  for  gal 
lantry  and  courage. 

Forty-eight  days  of  exhausting  service  under  the  fiery  heat  of 
an  almost  tropical  sun,  followed  by  sleepless  nights  upon  the 
picket  line,  had  its  effect.  Sickness,  suffering  and  death  pre 
vailed  to  a  fearful  extent,  and  the  remains  of  many  a  brave  man 
was  coffined  and  buried  in  rough  soldiers'  graves  near  the 
entrenchments.  Still  the  energies  of  the  army  was  never  known 
to  flag.  The  world's  records  have  designated  but  few  places 
where  more  determined  foes  faced  each  other  on  fields  of  battle 
than  at  Vicksburg.  But  sickness,  exhaustion,  and  above  all, 
starvation  began  to  tell  upon  the  stubborn  defenders.  Fre 
quently  in  the  lull  in  firing,  bits  of  pleasantry  were  indulged  in 
between  the  Federal  and  Confederate  pickets,  who  were  in  easy 


738  THIRTY-SIXTfi    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

speaking   distance  of  each   other.      A   Federal   picket  one  day 
called  out  to  his  gray -backed  opponent: 

"  Hello,  reb,  who  is  in  command  over  there  ?" 

"  General  Starvation,"  was  the  reply. 

Starvation  forced  an  unwilling  surrender  on  the  Fourth 
of  July,  and  Gen.  Logan's  Division  was  the  first  to  enter  the 
city.  J.  M.  Kennedy,  one  of  the  36th  boys,  on  orderlv  duty, 
was  among  the  first  to  traverse  the  streets,  and  to  water  his  horse 
in  the  Mississippi  river.  After  the  surrender,  Confederate  and 
Federal  soldiers  mingled  together,  roamed  over  the  vast  circuit 
of  the  battle-field,  talking  over  the  incidents  of  the  campaign. 
Many  an  intimacy  was  formed  never  to  be  forgotten,  and  many 
an  eye  was  moistened  as  former  acquaintances  and  friends,  lately 
in  arms  against  each  other,  met  and  talked  about  the  peaceful 
days  of  the  past,  and  the  events  each  had  participated  in  since 
this  cruel  war  of  brother  against  brother  had  been  inaugurated. 

Immediately  after  the  surrender,  arrangements  were  made  for 
attacking  Gen.  Johnston.  The  9th,  18th  and  lf>th  Corps 
marched  from  their  positions,  crossed  the  Big  Black  and  con 
verged  at  Boulton.  Johnston  had  received  notice  of  Pember- 
ton's  surrender  and  was  in  full  retreat  for  Jackson.  The  weather 
was  fearfully  hot,  but  the  army  pressed  forward,  skirmishing 
with  the  enemy's  rear  guard,  until  the  10th,  when  it  was  sud 
denly  confronted  by  a  strong  line  of  fortifications.  Gen.  Sher 
man  disposed  his  troops  for  the  investment  of  the  place,  and  with 
his  field  guns  shelled  the  city  of  Jackson  and  the  works  defend 
ing  it. 

Capt.  Willis'  Company  was  so  exhausted  and  worn  out  by 
hard  service  that  it  remained  at  Vicksburg  to  rest  and  recruit. 
Eight  or  ten  of  the  detailed  men  were,  however,  along,  and  par 
ticipated  in  the  fatigues  of  the  inarch  arid  horrors  of  the  battle- 


WILLIS*    COMPANY   IN   NEW   ORLEANS.  739 

field.  Through  a  misapprehension  of  orders,  a  portion  of  Lau- 
man's  Division  met  with  disaster,  and  two  brigades  were  literally 
annihilated.  One  of  them,  J.  M.  Kennedy,  has  given  us  a 
graphic  description  of  the  siege  of  Jackson,  the  massacre  of  two 
of  Lauman's  brigades,  the  flight  of  Johnston  and  the  occupation 
and  destruction  of  the  city.  As  but  few  of  the  Company  whose 
history  we  are  recording,  participated  in  the  campaign,  we  will 
not  enter  into  details.  Gen.  Sherman  pursued  the  enemy  as  far 
as  Brandon,  and  failing  to  overtake  him,  returned  with  his  com 
mand  to  Vicksburg,  July  27th. 

Royal  S.  Rutherford,  a  member  of  the  Company,  a  patient 
and  faithful  soldier,  sickened  while  on  the  march,  and  died.  His 
remains  fill  one  of  those  unknown  patriot  graves  so  common  in 
the  South.  Flowers  may  never  be  strewn  over  these  nameless 
graves,  but  the  memory  of  their  occupants  will  ever  remain  fresh 
and  green  in  the  hearts  of  surviving  comrades. 

Saturday,  July  25th,  Capt.  Willis'  Company,  with  other  troops, 
left  Vicksburg  en  route  for  New  Orleans.  They  were  detained 
at  Port  Hudson  some  time,  and  did  not  reach  their  destination 
until  the  17th  of  August.  The  usual  raid  upon  the  Company 
for  clerks  and  orderlies  for  general  officers  and  headquarters  was 
made  soon  after  its  arrival,  and  its  ranks  depleted  by  details  for 
eight  or  ten  of  its  best  men. 

Tt  being  reported  that  Rebel  batteries  were  annoying  passing 
transports  from  the  west  bank  of  the  .Mississippi,  Gen.  Herron 
was  sent  to  Morganza  bend  with  a  division  of  the  13th  Corps, 
to  protect  navigation  and  put  a  stop  to  the  incursions  of  guer 
rillas.  Capt.  Willis'  Company  was  with  the  expedition,  which 
reached  Morganza  September  7th.  Gen.  Herron  was  sick  much 
of  the  time,  and  did  not  remove  his  headquarters  from  the  steamer 
Iberville.  Detachments  were  sent  into  the  country  and  across 


740  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

to  the  Atchafalaya  river,  where  an  irregular  force  of  bushwhack 
ers  and  Rebel  rangers,  numbering  from  two  thousand  to  three 
thousand,  under  Gen.  Green,  were  met  and  held  in  check. 
Skirmishing  between  the  belligerents  was  an  every  day  occur 
rence,  and  the  duty  required  of  Company  A  was  severe. 

At  one  time  a.  Federal  outpost  was  surrounded  and  surprised, 
and  after  a  hot  engagement,  in  which  fifteen  men  were  killed  and 
thirty  wounded,  were  at  length  obliged  to  surrender.  Among 
those  taken  prisoner  was  0.  C.  Switzer,  of  Company  A  Cavalry. 
Continued  sickness  secured  for  Gen.  Herron  a  thirty  days'  leave 
of  absence,  and  Gen.  Dana,  coming  up  from  New  Orleans, 
assumed  the  command. 

The  orders  from  Washington  to  establish  the  flag  in  Texas  at 
the  earliest  possible  moment,  was  regarded  by  Gen.  Banks  as 
imperative.  One  expedition  for  this  object  had  failed,  and  it 
was  now  determined  to  make  a  second  attempt  somewhere  on  the 
Gulf  coast.  For  this  purpose  the  force  at  Morganza  was  with 
drawn  and  Gen.  Dana  placed  in  command  of  the  new  expedition 
to  Texas,  which  put  to  sea  about  the  last  of  October.  Eight  or 
ten  of  our  cavalry  boys  accompanied  it,  in  the  capacity  of  order 
lies  and  detailed  men,  and  passed  a  delightful  winter  on  the  banks 
of  the  Rio  Grande  and  the  Texas  coast.  The  company,  how 
ever,  were  destined  for  another  field  of  action,  and,  as  soon  as  it 
could  be  refitted  and  equipped,  crossed  the  Mississippi  and  pro 
ceeded  to  Berwick  Bay,  Vermillionville  and  Opelousas,  where 
Gen.  Franklin,  with  a  considerable  force,  was  holding  the  Teche 
country,  with  his  headquarters  at  New  Iberia..  He  was  con 
fronted  by  several  thousand  of  Kirby  Smith's  and  Dick  Taylor's 
southwestern  brigands,  who  kept  the  country  in  a  constant  tur 
moil  and  the  cavalry  on  a  continual  scout  and  chase  from  plan 
tation  to  plantation,  after  their  well-nigh  ubiquitous  foes.  This 


RE-ENLISTMENT.  741 

period  of  their  history  is  replete  with  startling  adventures  and 
feats  of  individual  prowess  and  daring.  In  one  of  their  forays, 
the  6th  Texas  Confederate  Cavalry  was  surprised,  and  the  whole 
regiment,  except  twenty-five  men,  made  prisoners.  We  have  no 
material  from  which  to  compile  this  part  of  the  company's  his 
tory,  and  are  reluctantly  compelled  to  pass  it  by  with  a  brief 
notice,  as  unsatisfactory  to  ourselves  as  it  will  doubtless  be  to 
many  of  our  readers. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  1864,  the  aspect  of  the  Rebel-- 
lion  had  materially  changed,  and  our  armies  occupied  positions 
far  in  advance  of  the  previous  year.  The  Mississippi  ran  "  unvexed 
to  the  sea."  With  the  hope  for  the  speedy  overthrow  of  the 
Rebellion,  came  a  fresh  demand  for  greater  sacrifices  on  the  part 
of  the  soldiers  of  the  Republic.  They  were  called  upon  to  "  vet 
eranize,"  or,  more  properly,  re-enlist  for  another  "three  years, 
or  during  the  war  "  term.  Under  the  spur  of  large  bounties 
and  a  home  furlough,  great  numbers  prolonged  their  term  of  ser 
vice.  The  proposition  created  intense  excitement  in  Company 
A,  and  for  days  this  subject  was  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the 
men  and  most  thoroughly  canvassed  in  all  its  bearings.  The 
result  wras,  that  all  but  about  half  a  dozen  of  those  present  for 
duty  re-enlisted  for  three  years  more.  The  announcement 
secured  immediate  orders  for  veteran  furloughs,  and  on  the  18th 
and  19th  of  January,  the  company  marched  from  New  Iberia  to 
Brunswick  Bay,  and  from  thence  by  rail  to  New  Orleans. 

Delays  in  the  making  out  of  muster-rolls,  accounting  for  prop 
erty,  and  in  securing  transportation,  kept  them  in  the  city  until 
the  llth  of  February,  before  they  were  fairly  launched  upon  the 
Father  of  Waters,  "homeward  bound."  They  happily  survived 
the  perils  of  riding  by  steamer  and  by  rail,  and  merry  as  larks, 
they  reached  Aurora  February  25th,  1864.  'Tis  useless  to 


742  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

recapitulate  the  warm  greetings  of  friends,  the  happy  re-unions 
and  unceasing  round  of  festivities  to  which  the  boys  were  sub 
jected  for  the  next  thirty  days-  These  are  all  treasured  in  their 
hearts,  never  to  be  forgotten. 

After  the  departure  of  the  veterans  to  their  homes  on  furlough, 
the  non-veterans  and  detailed  men,  on  their  return  from  Texas 
were  attached  to  the  2nd  Massachusetts  Cavalry,  and  formed  a 
part  of  the  mounted  division  under  Brig.  Gen.  Lee,  who  marched 
,his  command  via  Franklin,  New  Iberia  and  Opelousas,  through 
the  beautiful  Teche  country  to  Alexandria,  on  Red  river.  Here 
the  unfortunate  expedition  under  Gen.  Banks,  known  as  the 
Red  river  campaign,  rendezvoused.  A  fleet  of  gunboats  and 
transports  under  Admiral  Porter  moved  up  the  river  in  conjunc 
tion  with  the  land  forces,  in  the  direction  of  Shrieveport.  Lee's 
cavalry  led  the  advance,  fighting  its  way  and  driving  the  enemy 
steadily  before  them  throughout  the  march  to  Natchitoches, 
which  was  reached  March  31st. 

The  larger  boats  comprising  Porter's  fleet,  owing  to  the  low 
stage  of  water  and  increasing  difficulties  of  navigation,  were  left 
behind  at  Grand  Ecore,  four  miles  from  Natchitoches.  The 
lighter  boats  and  transports  succeeded,  though  with  great  diffi 
culty,  in  reaching  Springfield,  where  it  was  hoped  communica 
tion  would  be  had  with  the  land  forces.  But  on  the  way  to 
Springfield  the  enemy  was  encountered  in  strong  force,  who 
thwarted  every  attempt  to  proceed,  and  obliged  Gen.  Banks  to 
retreat  after  sustaining  a  humiliating  defeat. 

The  country  beyond  Natchitoches  was  one  of  the  most  dismal 
to  be  found.  Houses,  like  angels'  visits,  u  few  and  far  between," 
and  those  that  were  found  along  the  way  presented  the  irresista- 
ble  conviction  that  the  occupants  would  lose  little  of  comfort 
and  protection  from  the  weather,  and  would  be  gainers  in  the 


ENGAGEMENT    AT    SABINE    CROSS    ROADS.  4;> 

way  of  space  by  living  wholly  in  the  open  air.  The  road  fol 
lowed  the  crest  of  a  low  pine  ridge.  It  was  on  this  road  that 
the  Federal  army  marched  on  its  way  to  disaster  near  Mansfield. 

On  the  7th,  Gen.  Lee  pushed  his  cavalry  to  Pleasant  Hill,  and 
about  three  miles  beyond  encountered  the  enemy  who  gave  battle, 
and  in  the  hot  skirmish  which  ensued  a  number  were  killed  arid 
wounded  on  both  sides.  The  enemy  gave  ground  slowly,  and 
stubbornly  contested  every  inch.  As  the  sun  went  down  they 
made  another  stand  at  St.  Patrick's  Bayou,  and  in  the  action 
there  were  sixty- two  of  the  cavalry  killed,  wounded  arid  missing. 

On  the  8th,  fighting  continued  with  more  or  less  severity  all 
day,  and  the  line  of  march  was  marked  with  blood.  At  three 
p.  M.  the  enemy  was  found  massed  at  Sabine  cross  roads,  a  short 
distance  west  of  Mansfield,  and  an  engagement,  which  in  its 
results  and  losses  sustained  will  rank  among  the  great  battles  of 
the  war,  continued  until  darkness  put  an  end  to  the  slaughter. 
Early  in  the  action  the  cavalry  was  thrown  into  disorder,  and 
galloping  to  the  rear,  rushed  through  the  infantry  lines  and 
added  to  the  confusion.  Of  the  twenty-six  pieces  of  artillery 
brought  into  action,  eighteen  were  captured.  The  unwieldy 
train,  which  had  been  kept  close  up  with  the  advance,  was  aban 
doned  to  the  enemy.  The  Federal  loss  in  this  battle  was  about 
three  thousand.  The  enemy  lost  about  one  thousand. 

The  enemy  followed  up  their  advantage,  and  were  pressing 
the  disorganized  fugitives,  when,  just  at  nightfall,  they  struck 
Gen.  Emory's  Division  of  fresh  troops,  who  maintained  their 
position  like  an  unbroken  wall,  and  after  an  hour's  hard  fight 
ing,  repulsed  them,  killing  Gen.  Monton  in  the  first  onset.  To 
Emory's  firmness  and  the  gallantry  of  his  division,  the  army 
owed  its  safety. 


744  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Gen.  Banks  continued  his  retreat  to  Pleasant  Hill,  and  there 
formed  his  troops  in  a  position  of  his  own  choosing,  and  awaited 
the  approach  of  the  enemy.  Wearied  with  the  previous  day's 
fighting,  they  advanced  slowly,  and  did  not  make  their  attack 
until  four  p.  M.  The  conflict  that  followed  was  a  desperate  one, 
and  after  three  hours  of  carnage,  the  Rebels  were  fairly  beaten 
and  driven  from  the  field. 

Foiled  in  their  attempt  to  annihilate  Banks,  they  turned  their 
attention  to  the  fleet.  Commodore  Porter,  having  heard  of  the 
disaster,  turned  his  prows  down  the  narrow  channel,  up  which 
he  had  wriggled  with  so  much  difficulty.  The  enemy  in  large 
numbers  recklessly  charged  upon  the  passing  gunboats,  and  rifle 
shot  and  musketry  rattled  upon  the  sides  of  the  iron-clad  vessels 
like  hail.  Commodore  Porter  laughed  at  their  insane  efforts, 
and  opening  the  port-holes,  mowed  them  down  with  his  broad 
sides. 

Although  but  few  of  the  members  of  Company  A  participated 
in  the  Red  River  expedition,  yet  it  is  undoubtedly  true  that  in 
no  other  campaign  did  the  boys  endure  greater  privations  and 
such  continued  hard  service,  or  take  part  in  more  fiercely  con 
tested  battles  than  those.  Among  the  wounded  was  John  C. 
Goodwin  and  James  Allen.  Goodwin  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands, 
but  his  wounds  being  too  severe  to  allow  his  removal,  he  was 
paroled  and  subsequently  brought  from  the  field  and  cared  for 
during  the  retreat.  After  suffering  for  weeks,  his  arm  was  ampu 
tated,  but  no  surgeon's  skill  could  save  him,  and  he  died  at  New 
Orleans,  April  23rd,  1864.  The  names  of  those  of  Company  B 
who  participated  in  this  campaign  are  as  follows  :  Joseph  Allen, 
Henry  Beebe,  Stephen  Estee,  J.  C.  Goodwin,  Chauncey  Hol- 
lenback,  J.  M.  Kennedy,  Ole  Langland,  Joshua  Rathbone,  and 
George  Stewart. 


RETURN  OF  MAJOR  SHERBR.  745 

"Fall  in  for  dress  parade/'  was  the  not  overly  pleasant  sound 
which  greeted  the  veterans  of  Company  A  as  they  entered  the 
cavalry  depot  on  their  return  to  New  Orleans  from  veteran  fur 
lough.  Some  thought  it  rather  rough  and  in  marked  contrast 
with  the  gentle  treatment  they  had  lately  experienced  in  Illinois. 
But  as  soldiers,  they  soon  got  rid  of  their  "Miss  Nancy  notions," 
and  toned  down  to  their  every  day  duties  with  the  regularity  of 
a  clock.  Many  recruits  were  added  to  their  ranks,  and  to  drill 
the  awkward  squad  in  the  rudiments  of  war  and  teach  them  mil 
itary  discipline,  was  a  work  which  mostly  fell  upon  the  non-com 
missioned  officers.  A  season  of  unusual  quiet  succeeded  the 
return  of  the  Red  river  expedition,  and  "  all  quiet  on  the  Mis 
sissippi,"  became  as  stereotyped  as  the  quiet  which  at  an  earlier 
period  characterized  the  Potomac. 

In  July,  Major  Sherer  was  welcomed  back  to  the  Company, 
and  in  .a  few  days  thereafter  orders  were  received  to  report  to  the 
regiment,  then  stationed  at  Helena,  for  duty.  Though  nomin 
ally  a  part  of  the  15th  Cavalry  since  1862,  they  had  been  upon 
detached  service,  and  were  not  fully  incorporated  with  the  regi 
ment  until  now.  The  term  of  service  of  the  non-veterans  hav 
ing  expired,  Major  Sherer  proceeded  with  them  to  Springfield, 
and  they  were  mustered  from'  the  service  of  the  United  States 
August  24th,  1864. 

While  stationed  at  Helena,  the  troops  were  scourged  with  sick 
ness,  and  at  times  there  were  scarcely  well  ones  enough  in  camp 
to  care  for  the  sick.  Helena,  above  all  other  places  in  the  South 
west,  gained  the  unenviable  notoriety  of  being  the  graveyard  of 
Federal  soldiers.  Early  in  January,  1865,  the  15th  was  relieved 
by  the  87th  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  proceeded  to  Brownsville, 
not  far  from  Little  Rock  in  Arkansas,  via  White  river  and 
Duvall's  Bluff. 

48 


746  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Meanwhile  changes  in  the  field  officers  of  the  Company 
occurred,  caused  by  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  service  of 
Lieut.  Ferre,  and  the  appointment  of  Lieut.  Collins  to  Cap 
taincy  of  Company  F.  Sergt.  Daniel  Dynan  succeeded  Lieut. 
Ferre  as  1st  Lieutenant,  and  Sergt.  Jerome  B.  Marlett  was  pro 
moted  to  2nd  Lieutenant  October  llth,  1864.  They  continued  to 
hold  these  positions  until  the  consolidation  of  the  15th  with  the 
10th  Cavalry,  January  26th,  1865. 

When  once  fairly  settled  in  camp  at  Brownsville,  the  winter 
rains  kept  the  men  in  their  barracks,  apparently  as  firmly  rooted 
as  though  they  had  grown  there  and  expected  to  remain  for  the 
next  century.  One  of  the  boys  writes,  "  It  rains  some  every 
day,  and  some  more  every  night.  We  have  sprinkles,  showers 
and  storms,  that  have  been  the  order  ever  since  our  arrival.  In 
addition  to  these  we  have  had  several  more  rainy  days — days 
when  it  rained  all  day,  all  night,  the  next  day  and  next  night, 
and  then  it  set  in  for  a  rainy  day."  Roads  became  impassable, 
and  the  whole  country  was  reduced  to  a  pulpy  condition,  any 
where  from  six  inches  to  as  many  feet  in  depth. 

By  a  special  order  from  Department  Headquarters,  dated  Jan 
uary  26th,  1865,  the  10th  and  15th  Illinois  Cavalry  regiments 
were  consolidated  and  designated  as  the  10th,  with  Col.  James 
Stewart  in  command.  Capt.  Willis  was  promoted  to  Major,  and 
our  Company  was  lettered  M,  under  the  following  commissioned 
officers  :  Daniel  Dynan,  Captain  ;  Jerome  B.  Marlett,  1st  Lieu 
tenant  ;  and  George  Gunter,  2nd  Lieutenant. 

As  soon  as  the  mud  blockade  could  be  broken  in  the  spring, 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  New  Orleans,  where  they  arrived 
March  26th,  1865. 

The  usual  amount  of  rejoicing  over  the  surrender  of  Lee  and 
the  downfall  of  the  Rebellion,  was  indulged  in,  and  nowhere 


MARCH   THROUGH    TEXAS.  747 

were  there  more  sincere  mourners  over  the  Nation's  calamity  in 
the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  than  in  Capt.  Dynan's 
Company.  Fears  of  an  outbreak  were  entertained,  and  the  mil 
itary  were  under  arms  for  several  days,  but  happily  there  was  no 
occasion  for  their  services  in  quelling  disorders. 

A  part  of  the  10th  Cavalry  took  part  in  the  operations  against 
Mobile,  but  our  company  remained  in  its  camp  near  Greenville,  a 
suburb  of  New  Orleans.  In  June,  the  regiment,  together  with  a 
strong  detachment  of  other  troops,  proceeded  to  Shreveport  by 
steamer.  Here  James  McMullen  *  died  in  the  general  hospital, 
being  the  first  death  among  the  veterans  of  the  company. 

July  8th,  the  regiment  broke  camp  and  started  on  a  long, 
tedious  march  through  Texas  to  San  Antonio.  The  march  for 
the  first  few  days  was  through  dense  pine  forests.  Noiselessly 
the  horses  trod  over  the  brown  carpet  of  needle-shaped  leaves 
that  strewed  the  forest  paths,  while  the  sighing  of  winds  through 
the  tree  tops,  sounded  strange  and  weird  to  men  accustomed  to 
the  free,  fresh  winds  of  the  prairies.  On  reaching  the  high  and 
almost  boundless  prairies  of  Central  Texas,  the  boys  were  at 
home  again,  and  marched  cheerily  along.  The  country  was  com 
paratively  well  settled.  The  Southern  soldiers  were  generally 
at  home,  and  naught  inimical  to  the  flag  and  those  who  carried  it 
was  manifested. 

At  Austin,  the  capitol  of  the  State,  there  was  a  public  flag 
raising,  followed  by  a  speech  by  Gen.  Merritt,  and  much  latent 
Union  sentiment  cropped  out  and  showed  itself  on  the  surface. 
At  New  Braunfels  there  was  another  flag-raising  and  many 
demonstrations  of  loyalty  on  the  part  of  the  German  settlers. 
They  were  outspoken  in  their  Union  sentiments,  for  which  they 
had  suffered  much  during  the  dark  days  of  Rebellion.  Two 
companies  of  militia  were  organized,  followed  by  a  speech  from 


748  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Gen.  Merritt,  and  then  dancing  with  the  German  girls.     Thus  a 
pleasant  day  was  passed  at  New  Braunfels. 

The  regiment  reached  the  mongrel  Spanish,  Mexican  and  border 
desperado  town  of  San  Antonio  on  the  2nd  of  August.  At  this 
time  the  city  contained  8,000  inhabitants,  and  as  the  troops 
marched  through  its  narrow  streets,  almost  every  house  was 
decorated  with  flags,  and  much  enthusiasm  was  manifested.  Camp 
was  established  near  San  Pedro  Springs,  and  the  long  march 
through  the  heart  of  Texas  was  ended.  The  country  was  quiet 
and  there  was  little  for  the  military  to  do.  The  months  glided 
imperceptibly  away,  with  drills,  reviews  and  dress  parades,  until 
Nov.  22nd,  1865,  when  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  ser 
vice  and  proceeded  to  Springfield  for  final  discharge  and  pay, 
thence  returning  to  the  peaceful  avocations  of  <]uict  citizenship 
of  the  Republic  they  had  helped  to  save. 

VETERANS    COMPANY    A. 

Daniel  Dyann  Joseph  Carl 

Joseph  Ingham  George  L.  Dorr 

Jerome  B.  Marlett  William  H.  Fox 

Isaac  Rice  Martin  Glenn 

James  Surby  Gilbert  Heath 

George  Gunter  Nicholas  Hettinger 

Charles  O.  Dorr  Jesse  .Hollenback 

Robert  Fralick  Thomas  Hampson 

James  J.  Hume  Ira  Jacobs 

Edward  W.  Stewart  Oliver  H.  Judd 

Simeon  Bailey  James  E.  Kirkpatrick 

James  S.  Barber  Truman  Lillie 

Erwin  H.  Benton  Joseph  R.  Loomis 

John  Beebe  Ezra  Littler 

John  Carl  Richard  Lark  in 

James  McMullen  Thomas  B.  Robinson 

George  II .  McCabe  Thomas  J.  Slosson 

Joseph  F.  McCroskey  Eleazer  Todd 

Allen  Mowrey  Lawrence  S.  Tucker 

Eugene  Newell  Charles  Weaver 

Eugene  D.  Odell  Orrin  Z.  Whitford 

Aaron  Pricket  Darius  D.  Williams 


LIST   OF   RECRUITS. 


T49 


Emmett  S.  Arnold 
Silas  S.  Austin 
Levi  R.  Austin 
John  Absher 
John  Brolzman 
Jacob  Barnheardt 
Lott  H.  Bell 
Charles  H.  Buck 
Alfred  C.  Duff 
Burdett  O.  Dewey 
Stephen  V.  Estee 
William  Ellis 
Mark  D.  Flowers 
John  B.  Flannigan 
Charles  T.  Finley 
John  W.  Fisher 
Thomas  W.  Flagg 
Frank  Fox 
Henry  M.  Fowler 
Frank  H.  Goodwin 
John  C.  Goodwin 
George  A.  Gibson 
James  R.  Gillett 
James  Giles 
Willis  W.  Mintern 
Horace  A.  Miller 
Franklin  W.  Moore 
Isaac  Nave 
Alexander  Niceler 
Thomas  Neal 
Richard  M.  Northam 
Roswell  H.  Niles 
Washington  Need  li  am 
Conrad  Ott 
Isaac  S.  Olliver 
Benjamin  F.  Pearsons 
John  B.  Reed 
Thomas  Robinson 
Nahum  Robinson 
John  H.  Rowe 
John  Willis 
Hiram  Weston 
Andrew  I).  Weston 
Thomas  F.  White 
George  J.  Williams 


RECRUITS. 

Sidney  H.  Beebe 
David  B.  Clark 
Reuben  L.  Crossno 
Henry  P.  Converse 
Christopher  Colhnan 
John  Cooper 
Henry  Caruth 
James  A.  Durham 
James  Green 
William  D.  Hawkins 
Henry  Hart 
George  W.  Hammond 
Thompson  Harrell 
Thaddeus  C.  S.  Hawkins 
William  C.  Holland 
William  M.  Howell 
James  E.  Hollenback 
Samuel  Jackson 
Charles  A.  Jordan 
George  W.^Lannius 
Frederick  Miller 
Joseph  Moore 
Thomas  J.  Mills 
Giles  T.  Moser 
Henry  B.  Shelden 
John  Sanders 
Wilson  A.  Smothers 
Finnis  E.  Shepperd 
Henry  Stubbs 
John  W.  Swaftord 
John  Schoolcraft 
Edwin  Scrafford 
John  R.  Slaight 
Daniel  W.  Town  send 
James  Trippe 
Win.  A.  Thompson 
Myron  F.  Tarble 
Lucien  F.  Town 
William  Todd 
William  Venande 
Warren  T.  Wilder 
James  S.  Wood 
Levi  Wood  ford 
Willett  G.  Young 
Edmund  H.  Young- 
Andrew  Yeldham 


CHAPTER    XLV1. 

COMPANY    B    CAVALRY. 

ITH  the  exception  of  Company  B  Cavalry,  we 
have  now  followed  the  varying  fortunes  of  the 
noble  phalanx  of  brave  men,  who  early 
responded  to  the  bugle  call,  and  went  forth 
from  Carnp  Hammond  twelve  hundred  strong. 

We  have  noted  the  return  of  their  shorn  bat- 
*ur 

talions  and  skeleton  ranks,  with  scarcely  enough  left  to  chant  the 
praises  and  epitaph  the  graves  of  their  buried  comrades.  In 
resuming  the  story  of  Company  B,  it  will  be  necessary  to  go 
back  to  the  autumn  of  1862,  and  to  Perryville,  where  we  left 
them  in  full  career  of  victory.  Perhaps  no  band  of  men  of  equal 
numbers  who  drew  sword  in  the  defense  of  their  country,  was 
made  up  of  better  material,  or  accomplished  as  much  as  they,  with 
as  little  loss  of  life. 

During  Bragg's  somewhat  leisurely  retreat  from  Kentucky, 
the  policy^  of  Buell  was  to  fight  him  as  lightly  and  harry  him  as 
little  as  possible,  and  the  pursuing  columns  were  restrained  from 
accomplishing  all  they  wished,  or  all  they  might.  Company  B 
was  always  in  the  advance,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy's  rear 
guard,  scouting  the  country,  and  obtaining  valuable  information 


SHERER  AND  COMPANY  AT  LANCASTER.        751 

as  to  their  movements  and  designs.  Aside  from  the  usual  inci 
dents  and  excitements  of  the  chase,  nothing  of  moment  occurred 
until  nearing  Lancaster,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  14th,  when  the 
enemy  was  found  in  line  of  battle,  with  artillery  and  infantry 
supports.  Company  B  was  deployed  as  skirmishers,  and  boldly 
assailed  them  with  the  leaden  compliments  of  the  season,  until 
darkness  put  an  end  to  the  rambling  skirmish,  in  which  one  of 
the  enemy  was  known  to  have  been  killed. 

At  two  o'clock  the  next  morning  the  men  were  again  in  the 
saddle,  reconnoitering  the  Rebel  position.  It  was  found  that 
the  main  body  had  left,  and  only  a  rear  guard  of  cavalry  remained. 
At  daylight  permission  was  asked  and  obtained  to  make  a  charge, 
and  with  only  fourteen  men  Capt.  Sherer  broke  their  picket  line, 
dashed  through  town,  and  after  a  short  but  severe  fight  put  their 
rear  guard  to  flight,  killing  one,  wounding  one  severely,  and 
capturing  thirteen  prisoners. 

The  inhabitants  of  Lancaster  were  loyal,  and  warmly  greeted 
the  little  squad  of  cavalry  who  were  the  first  Federals  to  enter 
the  place.  During  the  preceding  night  the  town  had  been  occu 
pied  by  five  thousand  Confederate  infantry  and  cavalry,  who  had 
withdrawn  but  a  half  mile  when  their  rear  guard  was  so  hand 
somely  charged  and  put  to  flight.  Soon  after  the  2nd  Michigan 
Cavalry  came  up,  and  were  somewhat  chagrined  as  well  as  indig 
nant  to  find  that  all  the  honor  connected  with  the  brilliant  dash 
belonged  to  a  mere  handful  of  the  36th.  The  demonstrations  of 
loyalty  on  the  part  of  the  people,  and  their  expressions  of  admir 
ation  of  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  boys,  has  never  been  forgot 
ten  by  them,  and  is  often  referred  to  as  a  bright  spot  in  their 
soldier  experience.  For  gallant  conduct  at  Lancaster,  as  well  as 
at  Perryville,  Gen.  Carlin  in  his  official  report  paid  a  fine  com 
pliment  to  Capt.  Sherer  and  his  Company. 


752  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

At  Crab  Orchard  the  pursuit  of  Bragg  was  virtually  ended, 
and  the  Company  remained  in  camp  at  that  place  several  days, 
receiving  orders  in  the  meantime  to  report  to  Brig.  Gen.  Wood 
ruff  as  escort.  The  army  then  retraced  its  steps  to  Lebanon, 
where  communication  by  rail  was  opened  with  Louisville.  Mean 
while  Gen.  Buell  was  superceded  in  the  command  by  Rosecrans, 
who,  after  garrisoning  the  most  important  places,  proceeded  with 
the  main  army  to  Nashville. 

November  7th,  while  on  the  march  from  Tyree  Springs,  an 
army  sutler  was  met,  who  reported  a  band  of  guerillas  but  a 
short  distance  ahead,  who  had  captured  a  number  of  wagons,  and 
confiscated  his  goods,  chatties  and  effects.  Gen.  Woodruff 
ordered  Company  B  to  press  forward  and  endeavor  to  overhaul 
and  punish  the  band  of  depredators.  The  supposed  guerillas 
proved  to  be  two  or  three  thousand  of  John  Morgan's  freebooters, 
who,  learning  of  our  approach,  stationed  a  regiment  in  ambush 
along  the  rocky  sides  of  a  ravine  overlooking  and  commanding 
the  road  passing  through  it.  When  nearly  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  the  first  intimation  of  an  enemy  near  at  hand  was  a  volley 
from  double  barrelled  shot  guns  fired  at  short  range  from  behind 
overhanging  rocks,  almost  over  the  heads  of  the  Federal  troopers. 
Their  shots  ranged  high,  and  only  three  of  the  men  were  wounded. 
The  Company  attempted  to  storm  the  hill,  but  its  almost  perpen 
dicular  sides  could  not  be  scaled  by  cavalry.  Forming  the  Com 
pany  in  an  open  space  or  field  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  ravine, 
a  spirited  skirmish  was  maintained  until  word  could  be  sent  to 
Gen.  Woodruff,  who  dispatched  an  infantry  force  to  the  enemy's 
rear,  and  drove  them  from  their  advantageous  position.  In  this 
skirmish  Ephraim  Gardner.—  — and— 

were  wounded,  the  Captain's  horse  was  shot,  and  the  blankets 
and  clothing  of  most  the  men  perforated  with  buck  shot. 


PURSUIT   OF   MORGAN.  753 

Somewhat  chagrined  at  being  unwittingly  drawn  into  the  Rebel 
ambuscade,  the  men  were  anxious  for  an  opportunity  to  wipe  out 
the  fancied  cloud  upon  their  good  name,  and  go  in  pursuit  of  the 
marauders. 

Permission  was  granted,  and  the  next  morning,  having  been 
joined  by  detachments  from  other  commands,  they  started  out  in 
quest  of  Morgan.  Proceeding  up  the  Gallatin  pike  to  Sanders- 
ville,  they  learned  that  their  wily  adversary  had  left  the  road  for 
Murfreesboro,  and  was  to  cross  the  Cumberland  at  Shackle 
Island.  After  a  rapid  march  they  were  overtaken  at  the  river, 
and  stinging  volleys  of  carbine  shot  sent  into  their  rear,  chang 
ing  an  orderly  retreat  into  a  wild  stampede.  Two  of  the  gang 
were  made  prisoners,  and  three  horses  with  their  equipments, 
two  carbines,  two  revolvers  and  other  property  captured. 

The  next  day  the  Company  reached  Nashville  and  encamped 
in  the  environs  of  the  city.  On  the  15th,  Gen.  Davis  assumed 
command  of  the  Division,  and  Company  B  was  soon  after  detailed 
as  his  escort.  Scouting  parties  were  constantly  patrolling  the 
country,  who  made  it  lively  for  Morgan's  and  other  prowling 
bands.  About  the  middle  of  November  a  detachment  was  sent 
by  Gen.  Carlin  into  Cheatham  County,  under  the  command  of 
Col.  McKee,  in  quest  of  guerillas.  Lieut.  Reynolds,  with 
twenty  men  from  Company  B,  accompanied  the  expedition,  and 
after  many  adventures,  returned  on  the  20th  with  forty- six  pris 
oners  and  thirty  horses. 

A  similar  expedition,  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  the  country 
of  the  guerillas  infesting  the  valley  of  the  Cumberland,  left 
Nashville  November  27th,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Sherer. 
This,  on  account  of  the  lively  incidents  attending  it,  is  worth 
mentioning  somewhat  in  detail.  The  inhabitants  had  been  pre 
viously  warned  against  harboring  "bushwhackers,"  and  threat- 


754  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

ened  with  the  iron  hand  of  military  power  in  case  the  warning 
was  unheeded.  These  notices  had  produced  little  effect,  and 
scarcely  a  day  passed  that  some  unsuspecting  Federal  soldier  was 
not  waylaid  and  shot,  or  Union  citizens  murdered  in  cold  blood. 
Nameless  and  numberless  outrages  were  perpetrated,  compared 
to  which  the  atrocities  of  Digger  Indians  would  be  regarded  as 
acts  of  humanity.  So  bold  did  these  deperadoes  become,  and  so 
numerous  and  flagrant  their  outrages,  that  it  was  determined  to 
give  their  aiders  and  abettors  a  foretaste  of  what  they  might 
expect  if  these  depredations  were  continued. 

Every  trooper  knows  the  nature  of  such  service.  Many  hun 
dred  times  have  they  seen  from  one  to  three  gaunt  specimens  of 
the  genus  "butternut"  often  shoeless,  hatless  and  coatless,  break 
for  the  nearest  timber,  on  the  approach  of  cavalry  to  some  sus 
pected  house.  None  better  understand  what  "  tall  running " 
means  than  the  troopers  engaged  in  such  service,  nor  can  better 
appreciate  the  fun  and  excitement  of  chasing  these  fellows,  and 
their  forlorn,  hang-dog  expression  on  being  overhauled  and  com 
pelled  to  march  back,  often  over  long,  muddy  or  dusty  roads  on 
foot  to  Nashville,  perhaps  to  be  immured  within  the  vermin 
infested  walls  of  some  guard  house  for  months.  Once,  however, 
a  squad  of  the  boys  were  badly  sold.  The  day  was  dark  and 
stormy,  but  we  doubt  if  even  comrade  Strang  would  offer  that  as 
a  sufficient  excuse  for  chasing  a  darkey  five  mile  through  the 
mud,  and  when  overtaken,  find  him  on  his  way  to  a  negro  prayer 
meeting. 

At  another  time  squads  were  marched  through  woods,  thick 
ets  and  across  lots  in  order  to  surround  a  house  where  it  was 
suspected  guerillas  were  harbored.  None  were  there,  however, 
only  women  and  children  just  ready  to  sit  down  to  a  sumptuous 
repast  of  sweet  potatoes  and  hot  corn  dodgers.  The  boys  were 


AMUSING   INCIDENTS.  755 

disappointed  at  the  way  the  adventure  had  u  panned  out,"  and 
just  then  were  attacked  with  a  sudden  spasm  of  hunger.  Deter 
mined  to  avenge  themselves  in  some  way,  no  second  invitation 
was  needed  to  induce  them  to  share  the  smoking  viands  before 
them.  Their  hostesses  had  the  satisfaction  of  looking  on,  but 
not  a  crumb  was  left  for  them. 

Another  source  of  amusement,  if  not  of  wonder  and  amaze 
ment,  was  the  immense  number  of  cats  and  gaunt,  yellow  dogs 
which  infested  the  cabins  of  the  "  natives"  as  tenants  in  common. 

Private  Strang  tells  us  of  the  way  three  bushwhackers  were 
taken  in  and  cared  for  by  the  advance  guard.  "  We  were 
approaching  Harper's  shoals,  and  discovered  three  fellows  on 
horseback  on  another  and  converging  road.  They  did  not  see  us, 
and  were  soon  hid  from  view  behind  a  skirt  of  timber.  There 
were  three  of  us,  and  we  did  not  hesitate  to  "  go  in,"  spurring 
our  horses  down  one  hill  and  up  another  to  reach  the  point  of 
intersection.  The  distance  and  rate  of  speed  were  calculated  to 
a  nicety,  and  we  met  face  to  face  at  the  corners,  a  trio  of  as  hard 
looking  cut  throats  as  ever  infested  the  highway.  Their  looks 
did  not  belie  their  bushwhacking  profession,  and  after  a  brief 
examination  of  the  muzzles  of  our  cocked  revolvers,  they  were 
persuaded  to  give  up  their  arms  and  entrust  their  precious  car 
casses  to  our  care.  Their  arms  were  as  various  and  unique  as 
their  apparel.  The  one  consigned  to  my  charge  had  a  butcher 
knife  strapped  to  his  hips  and  a  double  barreled  shot  gun,  with 
each  barrel  charged  six  fingers  deep." 

Arriving  at  the  shoals,  a  considerable  force  of  the  "Johnnies" 
were  discovered  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  who  maintained 
a  steady  fire  upon  the  cavalry.  A  detachment  of  infantry  coin 
ing  up  sent  a  volley  of  minriie  balls  among  them  with  charming 
effect,  scattering  the  long-haired,  ragged  chivalry  like  sheep. 


756  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

About  that  time  a  wagon  load  of  whisky  was  captured,  and  the 
boys  all  adjourned  to  inspect  it.  Their  verdict  was,  "  Too  good 
for  the  Johnnies,"  and  that,  too,  was  taken  along.  The  next  day 
other  prisoners  were  taken  in,  with  horses  and  six  wagon  loads 
of  wheat.  The  whole  country  about  Cooperstown,  Turnersville, 
Port  Royal  and  Clarksville  was  thoroughly  scouted,  and  on  the 
1st  of  December  the  command  returned  to  Nashville  with  twenty- 
five  prisoners,  twenty  barrels  of  whisky,  six  loads  of  wheat  and 
a  large  number  of  horses  and  mules,  without  a  single  casualty  to 
the  men  and  but  one  horse  captured  by  the  enemy. 

During  the  period  of  these  minor  operations,  Gen.  Rosecrans 
was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  consolidate  his  army  and  prepare 
for  an  advance.  On  the  evening  of  the  25th  of  December  the 
several  commands  were  ordered  to  march  the  next  morning,  and 
thereupon  the  movement  upon  Murfreesboro  was  begun.  Gen. 
Davis,  in  command  of  the  right  wing,  led  the  advance  in  the 
direction  of  Nolansville,  and  at  daylight  forty  men  of  Company 
B,  with  fourteen  of  the  2nd  Kentucky  Cavalry,  under  Capt. 
Sherer,  headed  the  column.  Rain  fell  in  torrents  during  the  fore 
noon,  greatly  to  the  discomfort  of  the  men,  and  adding  to  the 
hardship  of  the  march.  The  Confederate  cavalry  pickets  were 
encountered  five  miles  from  Nashville,  and  a  slight  resistance 
offered,  but  they  were  easily  driven  back,  until  being  reinforced 
they  seemed  more  disposed  to  dispute  our  progress.  After  some 
skirmishing,  these  were  driven  two  miles,  when  two  more  squad 
rons  were  added,  making  their  numbers  too  formidable  for  a  direct 
attack. 

The  country  was  broken  and  covered  with  dense  thickets  of 
cedar.  By  sending  detachments  through  the  woods,  and  con 
cealing  their  movements,  they  were  enabled  to  strike  the  enemy 
unexpectedly  in  flank,  leading  them  to  suppose  that  a  new  force 


ENGAGEMENT  NEAR  NOLANSVILLE.  757 

was  coming  in  from  another  quarter,  and  in  this  manner  they 
succeeded  in  imposing  upon  and  driving  largely  superior  num 
bers.  The  constant  changing  from  one  flank  to  another,  through 
thickets  unbroken  by  a  single  trail,  was  fatiguing  both  to  men 
and  horses.  A  few  men  remained  on  the  pike  keeping  up  a  show 
of  pursuit,  while  the  balance  of  the  Company  were  assailing  the 
Rebel  flanks.  Subsequently  the  enemy  was  reinforced  by  three 
other  squadrons,  increasing  their  numbers  to  five  or  six  hundred. 
By  keeping  up  the  same  tactics,  these,  too,  were  driven,  but  not 
without  considerable  opposition.  Shots  were  freely  exchanged, 
and  the  popping  of  carbines  resounded  among  the  hills  and  val 
leys  along  the  line  of  march. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Nolansville  a  heavy  force  of  artillery, 
infantry  and  cavalry  were  found  in  position,  arid  it  became  nec 
essary  to  send  back  to  Gen.  Davis  for  help.  The  division  came 
up  and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  after  a  sharp  artillery  fire 
Carlin's  brigade  advanced  and  dislodged  the  enemy.  They 
retired  to  a  new  position  on  a  range  of  rocky  hills,  over  which 
the  road  passed  through  a  depression  known  as  Knob's  Gap. 
Our  batteries  were  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  and  the  roar  of 
cannon  drowned  the  sound  of  contending  elements  or  of  charging 
squadrons.  Carlin's  brigade  rushed  across  the  fields  upon  the 
enemy's  battery,  captured  two  guns  and  carried  the  heights  to  the 
right,  while  Post's  brigade  cleared  the  ridge  upon  the  left.  Night 
put  an  end  to  the  engagement,  and  Sheridan's  and  Johnson's 
Divisions  coming  up,  McCook's  whole  command  bivouacked  near 
Nolansville  for  the  night. 

During  the  day,  Company  B  drove  the  enemy  steadily  before 
them ;  captured  a  number  of  prisoners ;  killed  the  captain  of  a 
company  of  Texas  rangers,  and  took  many  horses,  wagons 
and  mules.  This  was  the  most  trying  march  and  the  severest 


758  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

day's  work  that  the  company  had  ever  accomplished.  The  horses 
were  so  nearly  used  up,  that  when  formed  in  line  at  Nolansville, 
many  laid  down  from  exhaustion,  and  could  not  be  moved.  Gen. 
Davis  complimented  Capt.  Sherer  and  the  company  highly,  say 
ing,  k'so  effectually  did  Capt.  Sherer's  company,  of  the  36th 
Cavalry,  drive  back  and  manoeuver  out  of  position  this  greatly 
superior  force,  that  the  infantry  were  not  permitted  to  fire  a  shot 
until  at  Nolansville."  No  single  company  could  have  accom 
plished  more. 

A  dense  fog  prevailed  the  next  morning,  and  the  army  was 
not  in  motion  much  before  noon.  The  Cavalry  Division,  under 
Stanley,  moved  cautiously,  and  skirmished  with  the  enemy  but  did 
not  press  him  to  an  engagement  in  a  fog  so  dense  that  it  was  difficult 
to  distinguish  friend  from  foe.  When  the  fog  lifted,  artillery  arid 
infantry  moved  to  the  front  and  pushed  the  Confederates  beyond 
Triune.  Company  B  was  held  in  reserve  that  day  and  did  not 
participate  in  the  engagement.  Their  horses  had  not  fully  recov 
ered  from  the  severe  labors  of  the  day  before. 

The  28th  being  the  Sabbath,  and  the  army  needing  rest,  there 
was  no  advance.  It  was,  however,  a  day  of  preparation  for  the 
conflict,  which  all  felt  was  near  at  hand.  Company  B  fired  off 
the  damp  charges  in  their  pistols  and  carbines,  cleaned  their  arms 
and  loaded  anew. 

Early  on  the  29th,  the  camps  were  instinct  with  life,  arid  the 
army  put  in  motion.  Gen.  Stanley,  in -command  of  the  Cavalry 
Division,  lead  the  advance,  and  pressed  the  enemy  closely  for  six 
miles.  Company  B  moved  across  to  the  Murfreesboro  Pike,  and 
were  in  the  extreme  advance  until  reaching  Stewart's  Creek, 
when  the  Anderson  Troop  and  one  or  two  other  cavalry  regi 
ments,  under  Col.  Stokes,  took  the  lead.  The  enemy  was  found 
a  mile  or  two  beyond  in  battle  array,  and  when  the  fact  was 


BATTLE    OF    DEC.    BOTH.  T59 

reported  to  Gen.  McCook,  he  ordered  Company  B  to  accompany 
Col.  Pense  to  the  front,  to  make  a  thorough  reconnoissance  of 
their  position.  The  Anderson  Troop  charged  across  a  field,  and 
received  the  fire  of  two  Rebel  regiments,  concealed  behind  a 
fence.  A  number  of  saddles  were  emptied,  and  Majors  Ward 
and  Rosengarten  and  six  men  were  killed.  Company*  B  was  just 
at  the  left  of  the  Anderson  Cavalry,  out  of  the  line  of  the  Rebel 
fire,  and  suffered  no  loss.  A  confederate  force  of  5,000  or  6,000 
infantry,  with  cavalry  and  artillery,  was  developed,  and  then  the 
cavalry  retired  to  Overall  Creek,  where  the  infantry  arrived  at 
dark,  and  the  whole  right  wing  went  into  camp  in  the  neighbor 
hood. 

Very  early  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the  army  moved  for 
ward,  and  as  the  columns  approached  the  Rebel  position,  they 
were  obstinately  opposed.  Post's  Brigade,  of  Davis'  Division, 
was  on  the  right,  and  Capt.  Sherer  was  ordered  to  report  with 
his  company  to  him  for  duty,  and  was  placed  upon  the  extreme 
right  flank  of  the  army.  Advancing  about  three-fourths  of  a 
mile,  Carlin  arid  Post  became  engaged,  and  the  company  was 
deployed  as  skirmishers  as  well  as  flankers.  Throughout  the 
fore  part  of  the  day,  a  continuous  fire  was  kept  up  with  Hardec's 
advance.  When  hardly  pressed,  Davis  would  send  a  regiment  of 
infantry  to  help  them,  but  after  swinging  into  position,  he  assailed 
the  Rebel  line  with  artillery,  forcing  it  back.  Johnson  coming 
up  with  his  Division,  Capt.  Sherer  showed  him  Hardee's  position 
and  where  to  align  his  division,  on  Davis'  right,  while  Sheridan 
formed  on  the  left.  These  three  divisions  opened  upon  the  enemy 
with  artillery,  and  for  one  or  two  hours  before  dark,  cannon 
responded  to  cannon,  and  at  several  points  where  the  lines 
approached  each  other,  the  sharp  tones  of  musketry  mingled  with 
the  basso  voice  of  heavy  artillery.  During  the  afternoon,  Car- 


760  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

liri's  Brigade  charged  a  Rebel  battery  and  drove  the  gunners 
from  their  pieces,  but  the  supporting  infantry  enfiladed  them  with 
a  terrific  fire  of  musketry,  and  it  fell  back  to  its  former  position 
with  heavy  loss.  Gen.  Davis  in  his  report  of  this  day's  opera 
tions,  made  favorable  mention  of  Company  B,  saying  they 
answered  the  purpose  of  a  brigade. 

This  day,  which  may  well  be  termed  the  first  act  in  one  of  the 
most  terrible  tragedies  of  the  war,  was  fruitful  of  personal  adven 
tures,  some  of  which  have  been  related  to  us.  While  upon  the 
skirmish  line,  a  Rebel  captain  of  artillery,  was  observed  to  be 
particularly  active  and  skillful  in  handling  his  guns.  A  line  of 
rail  fence  ran  from  the  thicket,  where  some  of  the  cavalry  were 
stationed,  to  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  this  battery.  Sergts. 
Duncan  and  Harvey  conceived  the  idea  of  advancing  under  cover 
of  the  fence,  to  a  position  within  easy  range  for  giving  the  John 
nies  a  lesson  in  Yankee  marksmanship.  Capt  Sherer  held  their 
horses  while  they  crept  along  the  fence.  Their  first  shots  were 
too  long  ranged  to  produce  an  effect,  except  to  cause  a  sudden 
dodging  as  the  missiles  went  hissing  by  their  ears.  Getting  a 
little  nearer,  the  second  shots  accomplished  their  object,  and  the 
captain  of  the  battery  was  seen  to  fall,  causing  no  little  conster 
nation  among  the  gunners.  They  however  changed  the  direction 
of  their  fire,  arid  for  a  few  moments  the  shot  flew  lively  through 
the  cedars  behind  which  the  boys  were  posted — one  passing  under 
the  arm  and  through  the  poncho  of  Capt.  Sherer. 

At  five  o'clock  A.  M.  December  31st,  the  horses  were  bridled 
and  prepared  for  action.  The  early  dawn  of  the  morning  dis 
closed  solid  masses  of  the  enemy  advancing  rapidly  from  the 
timber,  who  charged  Johnson's  Division  and  surprised  and  routed 
it.  Without  halting  they  bore  down  upon  Davis's  right,  while 
other  columns  heavily  massed  pressed  him  in  front.  His  division 


A   DESPERATE    STRUGGLE.  761 

stood  its  ground  until  nearly  cut  to  pieces,  and  then  broke  and 
retired  in  confusion.  Sheridan  and  Negley,  outnumbered  by 
thousands,  assailed  in  front  and  flank,  each  in  turn  were  obliged 
to  bend  beneath  their  thronging  legions,  and  the  whole  of  Mc- 
Cook's  Corps  was  broken  and  forced  from  one  position  to  another, 
and  at  last  doubled  upon  the  left. 

Company  B  retired  in  good  order  from  the  scene  of  Davis'  dis 
aster  across  a  cotton  field,  and  then  turning  left  about,  they  drew 
their  sabres  and  deployed  as  skirmishers  to  stop  the  fugitives, 
rally  the  infantry  and  check  the  rout.  But  as  well  attempt  to 
stay  the  resistless  current  of  a  river  as  to  stop  the  panic-stricken 
fugitives,  fleeing  before  the  wave  of  Rebel  fire  that  was  rolling 
up  behind  them.  Shot  and  shell  went  screaming  over  their 
heads  or  plunging  through  the  half  formed  ranks,  and  soon  began 
to  hail  in  frightful  quantities  around  the  cavalry.  The  Captain's 
sabre  was  broken  by  a  grape  shot,  some  of  the  men  unhorsed,  arid 
others  wounded.  It  was  useless  to  attempt  a  stand  at  that  point, 
and  they,  too,  were  borne  back  with  the  crowd.  Another  attempt 
was  made  to  form  in  the  timber,  but  without  success,  and  the 
retrograde  movement  was  continued  to  the  railroad,  where  form 
ing  in  front  of  it,  a  final  stand  was  made,  and  the  enemy  repulsed 
after  a  desperate  struggle. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  day  Company  B  was  mostly 
employed  in  gathering  up  the  stragglers  and  reforming  the  divis 
ion.  In  a  charge  upon  our  position  on  the  Nashville  pike,  five 
of  the  Company  were  captured.  Capt.  Sherer  called  a  portion 
of  the  4th  Michigan  Cavalry  to  aid  him,  charged  back  upon  the 
enemy  arid  recovered  the  boys  from  their  hands.  It  was  an 
exciting  charge,  attended  with  much  risk  and  danger,  and  was 
not  accomplished  without  loss.  Just  at  night  the  4th  Regulars, 

49 


762  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

the  2nd  Michigan  and  Company  B  charged  upon  and  broke  the 
enemy's  line,  and  drove  it  from  the  field. 

Among  the  casualties  of  this  terrible  day  was  James  Knox, 
who  was  struck  by  a  grape  shot  in  the  hip  arid  left  for  dead  upon 
the  field.  lie  eventually  recovered,  and  was  discharged  in  con 
sequence  of  wounds.  John  Davis  was  also  severely  wounded  in 
the  arm,  by  which  he  obtained  his  discharge  some  months  after. 

In  the  operations  of  the  three  succeeding  days,  Company  B 
was  deployed  on  the  left  as  skirmishers,  guarding  that  flank, 
collecting  stragglers  and  directing  them  to  their  commands. 
At  one  time  enough  for  two  regiments  of  those  who  were  drifting 
to  the  rear  were  halted,  returned  to  their  places  in  front,  and  made 
available  in  the  subsequent  fighting. 

The  new  year  was  ushered  in  with  a  continuation  of  the  car 
nage  that  had  crimsoned  the  last  days  of  the  old.  There  were 
assaults  and  counter  assaults  on  the  left,  the  assailants  on  either 
side  generally  being  driven  back  with  loss.  Our  artillery  was 
splendidly  served,-  and  whole  columns  melted  away  before  its 
fire.  The  men  stood  their  ground  as  if  rooted  to  the  position, 
and  all  efforts  to  break  the  lines  were  repelled. 

Similar  demonstrations  were  made  the  next  day,  but  without 
decisive  results  until  four  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  concentrating  their 
strength  for  a  last  grand  effort  against  Beattie's  Division,  the  enemy 
attacked  with  the  greatest  persistence  and  fury,  and  was  rolling 
it  back  in  disorder,  when  battery  after  battery  was  sent  to  its  aid 
until  fifty  eight  guns  were  playing  upon  them.  Gen.  Davis  also 
"went  in"  with  his  division,  and  finally  the  enemy  was  hurled  back 
to  his  former  position,  leaving  the  ground  thickly  strewn  witli 
dead  and  wounded.  Following  up  our  success,  a  large  force 
crossed  the  river,  and  threw  up  earthworks.  The  cries  and  groans 


POSSESSION    OF   MURFREESBORO.  763 

of  the  mangled  wrecks  of  humanity  which  covered  this  portion 
of  the  field  were  enough  to  appal  the  stoutest  heart. 

It  was  rainy,  cold  and  disagreeable  throughout  the  third  day 
of  the  new  year,  and  beyond  occasional  outbursts  of  artillery,  quiet 
ness  prevailed.  Towards  evening  Gen.  Thomas  advanced  the 
centre,  gained  a  part  of  their  entrenchments  and  severed  the 
Rebel  line.  During  the  night  Bragg  retreated,  and  almost  before 
being  aware  of  the  fact  we  were  masters  of  the  field.  The 
dead  were  collected  and  buried,  the  wounded  cared  for,  and  on 
the  5th  we  took  possession  of  Murfreesboro,  shelling  the  Con 
federate  rear  as  it  disappeared.  After  ten  days  persistent  fight 
ing  we  had  gained  a  victory,  but  at  what  a  cost!  One  thousand 
five  hundred  and  thirty-three  heroic  men,  had  attested  their  devo 
tion  to  country  by  yielding  up  their  lives,  while  seven  thousand 
two  hundred  and  forty-four  were  writhing  in  agony  on  beds  of 
pain.  That  the  enemy's  losses  were  equally  heavy,  was  poor 
consolation  for  the  bloody  sacrifice. 

Our  commissary  trains  came  in  soon  after,  and  a  threatened 
famine  was  averted.  Some  of  the  troops  had  subsisted  for  days 
on  horse-flesh.  Company  B  established  its  camp  near  the  Shel- 
byville  pike,  a  short  distance  south  of  Murfreesboro,  and  then 
succeeded  a  season  of  rest.  No  duty  was  required  of  them, 
except  occasionally  to  escort  general  officers  over  the  late  battle 
field. 

The  transfer  of  the  company  to  the  15th  Cavalry  was  first 
known  on  the  17th  of  January,  and  created  general  dissatifaction 
and  disgust.  Not  a  man  but  expressed  himself  as  bitterly  opposed 
to  the  change.  A  formal  protest  was  made  to  Gov.  Yates,  and 
letters  written,  favoring  the  revocation  of  the  order,  but  with 
out  effect.  Henceforth  they  were  mustered  for  pay  as  Com 
pany  K,  15th  111.  Cav.,  but  scarcely  a  member  would  acknowl- 


764  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

edge  his  connection  with  that  regiment.  Lieut.  Barnard  tendered 
his  resignation,  which  was  accepted  on  the  23rd,  and  Sergt. 
Charles  M.  Harvey  was  promoted  to  the  vacancy,  being  the 
only  change  in  the  commissioned  officers  until  the  succeeding 
year. 

About  the  last  of  January,  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  exceed 
ingly  active,  demonstrating  upon  our  flanks  and  rear  and  menac 
ing  our  communications.  Davis'  Division,  with  all  the  available 
cavalry  was  directed  to  move  to  the  rear  of  the  Rebel  force  and 
intercept  its  retreat.  At  Salem,  a  part  of  the  cavalry  was 
despatched  to  Unionville  and  Rover,  while  the  main  command 
continued  to  Eaglesville.  The  first  detachment  captured  a  Rebel 
regiment  at  Rover,  numbering  three  hundred  and  fifty  men. 
Company  B  led  the  advance  to  Eaglesville,  charged  the  town,  and 
took  a  number  of  prisoners.  Forty-six  were  taken  during  the 
day.  The  command  reached  Franklin,  Feb.  2nd,  and  occupied 
it  until  the  arrival  of  the  infantry. 

The  Rebel  Gen.  Wheeler,  made  a  descent  upon  Fort  Donclson, 
and  while  operating  there,  Gens.  Morgan  and  Minty  were  sent 
from  Franklin  to  cut  off  his  retreat.  Company  B,  as  usual,  took 
the  lead,  and  had  the  honor  of  capturing  a  colonel,  one  major, 
and  about  thirty  of  Forest's  Cavalry.  They  ran  out  of  provis 
ions  ;  the  country  was  destitute,  and  for  days  they  subsisted  on 
parched  corn.  Wheeler  was  repulsed  from  Fort  Donelson,  and 
retreated  precipitately.  Making  a  wide  circuit  to  the  west,  he 
eluded  Morgan  and  Minty,  and  the  command  returned  to  Frank 
lin  and  then  to  Murfreesboro,  with  little  to  compensate  them  for 
the  fatigues  of  the  expedition. 

February  28th,  Company  B  accompanied  a  foraging  expedi 
tion,  and  at  Versailles  skirmished  with  a  detachment,  driving  it 
.several  miles,  and  on  the  return,  acted  as  rear  guard.  A  scout 


EXPEDITION   TO    ROVER.  765 

to  Eaglesville,  March  10th,  was  replete  with  incidents,  similar 
in  many  respects  to  expeditions  of  this  kind  generally.  Another 
to  Rover,  shortly  after,  was  too  noted  and  well  remembered  to 
pass  unnoticed.  While  other  detachments  were  operating  at 
various  points,  Capt.  Sherer  was  sent  with  one  hundred  and  sev- 
teen  men  towards  Rover,  to  reconnoitre.  Shortly  after  leaving 
camp  he  encountered  one  hundred  Confederates,  and  kept  up  a 
running  fight  for  several  miles.  They  being  joined  by  two  hun 
dred  others,  were  likewise  driven,  until  within  half  a  mile  of  the 
town  a  Rebel  regiment  was  discovered  with  artillery  in  position. 
A  few  shots  were  exchanged  while  our  skirmishers  were  devel 
oping  their  strength.  The  enemy  were  too  numerous  to  be 
attacked,  and  were  throwing  out  flanking  columns,  for  the 
purpose  of  surrounding  Capt.  Sherer's  detachment,  when  a  retreat 
was  ordered.  Our  skirmishers  were  too  much  spread  out  to  be 
readily  withdrawn,  and  the  enemy  poured  down  the  pike  and 
captured  four  of  them.  Wheeling  suddenly,  a  counter-charge 
was  made  and  two  of  the  men  recaptured.  Another  made  his 
escape,  but  Daniel  Porchette  was  held  a  prisoner.  Sergt.  Mc 
Queen,  with  twelve  men,  was  holding  the  rear,  when  the  enemy 
charged  a  second  time — hurrying  the  retreat  materially.  One 
man's  horse  giving  out,  he  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands,  but 
McQueen,  charging  back,  recovered  him,  and  retired  unharmed. 
At  the  second  charge,  John  Gilbert  was  pretty  badly  scared,  and 
putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  started  for  Triune  at  the  top  of  its 
speed.  Upon  the  Captain  ordering  him  to  halt,  he  turned  slightly 
in  his  saddle  and  excitedly  said,  "  Cap,  them  dog'ond  Texican 
Rangers  are  all  over  God's  creation,  and  you'd  better  lite  out !" 
Reconnoissance  in  various  quarters,  developed  the  fact  that  the 
enemy  was  gathering  in  strong  force,  in  the  immediate  neigh 
borhood.  The  pickets  were  frequently  fired  upon,  and,  on  the 


766  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

morning  of  the  21st,  driven  in.  Company  B  was  sent  as  a 
support,  and  unexpectedly  struck  the  Rebels  in  flank.  A  few 
volleys  put  them  to  flight,  and  in  their  retreat  they  were  galled 
by  Sheridan's  artillery.  For  gallantry  at  Rover  and  on  various 
other  occasions,  Capt.  Sherer  was  allowed  twenty  days  absence, 
and  visited  Aurora.  On  his  return,  the  company  presented  him 
with  a  fine  sabre,  to  replace  the  one  broken  at  Stone  River,  and 
with  it  many  expressions  of  their  appreciation  and  kind  regards. 

As  the  spring  advanced,  indications  of  increasing  activity  on 
the  part  of  the  belligerents  began  to  appear.  The  army  at  Mur- 
freesboro  was  fairly  beleaguered  by  bold  and  enterprising  foes. 
The  following  entry  in  an  officer's  diary  illustrates  the  state  of 
affairs  within  our  lines.  "  Enemy  reported  to  be  moving  to  our 
left.  Division  ordered  to  the  front.  Saw  the  enemy's  pickets. 
Horse  race  indefinitely  postponed." 

May  19th,  Capt.  Sherer  was  ordered  to  proceed  with  his  Com 
pany,  by  a  circuitous  route,  to  the  rear  of  a  Rebel  picket  post, 
seven  miles  distant,  on  the  Shelby ville  pike,  while  four  companies 
of  infantry  and  one  of  cavalry,  was  to  co-operate  from  another 
direction.  On  approaching  the  post,  the  infantry  were  to  march 
in  the  woods  parallel  with  the  pike,  and  far  enough  from  it  for 
concealment,  with  a  view  to  reaching  the  enemy's  flank  undis 
covered.  The  position  was  on  elevated  ground,  where  two  roads 
met,  and  where  a  church,  blacksmith-shop  and  other  buildings 
were  located. 

The  infantry  moved  too  near  the  pike  and  imprudently  showed 
themselves  before  Company  B  and  the  other  cavalry  could  get  into 
position.  Capt.  Sherer  hearing  the  firing  that  followed,  broke 
through  their  chain  pickets,  galloping  rapidly  through  the  brush, 
until  supposing  himself  far  enough  to  outflank  the  enemy  ;  then 
wheeled  to  the  left,  in  the  direction  where  the  infantry  were 


YANKEE   CUNNING.  767 

engaged,  thinking  to  sweep  off  the  videttes  before  their  reserves 
could  come  up.  A  negro  informed  the  Captain  that  instead  of 
pickets  alone,  reserves  and  all  were  at  the  corners.  Seeing  it  was 
useless  to  contend  with  so  large  a  force,  he  endeavored  to  retrace 
his  steps,  and  was  surprised  to  see  a  large  force  gathered  in  his 
rear  and  charging  down  upon  him.  Finding  himself  surrounded, 
he  determined  to  cut  his  way  through  those  at  the  corners. 
Galloping  down  the  lane  he  came  to  a  gate,  which  caused  a 
momentary  delay,  during  which  the  dense  column  of  dust  in  the 
rear  was  rolling  up  frightfully  near.  The  skirmish  with  the 
infantry  was  over  and  the  latter  had  retreated.  The  force  now 
gathered  at  the  corners  outnumbered  his  ten  to  one.  The  lane 
was  full  of  armed  men,  and  across  a  field  to  the  right  the  timber 
was  packed  with  cavalry.  To  charge  this  multitudinous  host  was 
now  the  only  desperate  resort,  and  on  he  went  with  the  speed 
of  the  wind.  Lieut.  Harvey  with  the  first  platoon  cleared  the 
lane,  and  reaching  the  corners,  turned  south  to  hold  the  enemy 
in  check  while  the  others  were  extricating  themselves  from  the 
trap  into  which  they  had  unwittingly  entered.  Sergt.  Duncan 
with  the  second  platoon  turned  north,  and  Sergt.  McQueen  with 
the  third  followed,  and  when  fairly  on  the  road  to  Nashville, 
Harvey  came  on  bringing  up  the  rear.  The  audacity  of  the 
movement  astonished  the  Rebels,  who,  seeing  the  great  cloud  of 
dust  in  rear  of  our  cavalry,  supposed  the  whole  outfit  to  be  Yan 
kees,  and  their  efforts  were  mainly  directed  in  endeavoring  to 
get  away,  instead  of  fighting  the  squad  that  charged  them.  Cit 
izens  coming  in  the  next  day  reported  the  force  at  the  corners, 
through  which  Harvey  charged,  as  four  hundred.  That  in  the 
charge  two  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  six  wounded,  and  their 
Colonel's  horse  shot.  They  thought  until  the  dust  had  cleared 
away,  that  the  whole  force  was  Yankees,  that  a  general  advance 


768  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

was  being  made,  and  significantly  added,   "Youans  will  never 
come  that  over  weuns  again." 

Shortly  after  this  adventure,  the  Company  was  ordered  to 
report  to  Gen.  Crittenden  for  escort  duty.  Gen.  Davis  feelingly 
bade  them  good  bye,  and  highly  extolled  their  bravery  and  the 
many  gallant  acts  they  had  performed. 

The  question  of  an  advance  was  finally  determined,  and  on 
the  24th  of  June  Crittenden's  Corps  was  put  in  motion.  Thomas 
and  McCook  had  marched  the  day  before.  The  booming  of  can 
non  in  front  was  the  music  that  heralded  the  advance  of  the 
army.  To  enter  into  details  of  the  incidents  of  the  march,  and 
the  numberless  skirmishes  in  which  the  Company  was  engaged, 
would  vary  but  little  from  what  has  already  been  written  of  sim 
ilar  adventures,  and  would  swell  this  chapter  to  an  immoderate 
length.  Crittenden's  Corps  was  the  first  to  enter  Chattanooga 
after  its  evacuation  by  Bragg.  Company  B  lead  the  advance, 
and  were  the  first  Federal  soldiers  in  the  city,  except  pris 
oners  of  war  captured  in  former  campaigns,  that  had  been  taken 
through  on  their  way  to  Southern  prison  pens.  They  took  a 
colonel  and  a  number  of  Rebel  stragglers  prisoners,  with  ordnance 
stores  and  other  property,  including  a  wagon  load  of  "  Cherry 
Bounce." 

Longstreet,  with  reinforcements  from  the  Rebel  army  in  Vir 
ginia,  joining  Bragg,  materially  changed  the  aspect  of  affairs, 
and  our  army,  scattered  over  a  wide  territory,  was  in  a  critical 
position.  The  Rebel  commander  at  once  discontinued  his  retro 
grade  movement,  and  turning  about,  sought  to  recover  the  posi 
tions  he  had  abandoned,  and  to  crush  in  detail  our  scattered  divis 
ions.  The  changed  situation  caused  deep  solicitude  and  anxiety 
on  the  part  of  our  commanders,  who  sought  to  extricate  the 
army  from  its  perilous  position,  and  every  effort  was  made  to 


CARRYING   DESPATCHES.  769 

concentrate  the  different  corps  and  interpose  a  barrier  to  the  re-oc 
cupation  of  Chattanooga  by  the  enemy .  Orders  and  despatches 
were  flying  between  headquarters  and  the  subordinates  in  the 
field.  The  cavalry  were  on  the  wing  night  and  day,  and  scarcely 
a  breathing  spell  was  given  to  those  on  detached  service. 

At  two  P.  M.  of  the  llth,  Capt.  Sherer  was  sent  with  despatches 
to  Gen.  Wood,  and  in  the  gloom  of  night,  the  wrong  road  was 
taken.  Ere  long  he  found  himself  within  the  enemy's  picket 
lines,  and  while  endeavoring  to  extricate  the  party,  Sergt.  Perry 
and  private  Mann  fell  into  their  hands  as  prisoners  of 
war.  After  wandering  in  the  darkness  through  woods,  hills  and 
ravines,  Gen.  Wood  was  found  at  daylight  and  the  despatches 
delivered.  On  the  12th,  Company  B  was  sent  to  the  front,  and 
engaged  all  day  the  enemy's  cavalry.  After  dark  they  went 
into  camp  at  Gordon's  Mills.  From  that  time  until  the  19th, 
there  was  sharp  and  almost  constant  skirmishing,  and  often 
the  deep-voiced  cannon  mingled  in  the  fray.  Company  B  par 
ticipated  in  many  of  these,  and  at  other  times  were  carrying 
despatches  to  every  part  of  the  widely  extended  field  of  oper 
ations- 
Early  on  the  19th,  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  opened  near 
Gordon's  Mills.  Bragg  had  evidently  expected  to  get  into  Chat 
tanooga  in  advance  of  our  army,  but  in  this  he  was  foiled,  and 
massing  his  forces,  he  hurled  them  in  great  fury  against  separate 
corps.  A  desperate  struggle  ensued — with  varying  success,  but 
without  decisive  results.  Ten  men  of  Company  B  were  assigned 
to  Gen.  Sheridan,  and  shared  in  the  fortunes  of  his  intrepid 
division.  The  balance  were  constantly  on  the  wing,  carrying 
orders  and  reconnoitering.  At  one  time,  while  passing  a  gap 
through  which  the  enemy  had  penetrated,  the  whole  detachment 
narrowly  escaped  capture. 


770  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Through  the  dull  hours  of  the  succeeding  night,  our  army  was 
concentrating  upon  the  left,  to  overlap  Bragg's  right,  and  cover 
the  road  to  Chattanooga.  Portions  of  Crittenden's  and  McCook's 
Corps  were  sent  to  Gen  Thomas'  assistance,  and  it  was  owing  to 
the  weakening  of  these  corps  and  the  strengthening  of  the  left, 
that  they  met  with  disaster  the  succeeding  day,  while  Thomas 
with  great  difficulty  was  enabled  to  hold  his  position.  The  right 
wing  met  with  disaster  and  was  driven  with  immense  loss  from 
the  field — some  even  retiring  to  Chattanooga.  During  the  night 
Company  B  conducted  Gen.  Crittenden  to  Gen.  Rosecrans' 
headquarters  at  the  Widow  Glenn's.  While  the  right  was  retir 
ing  in  disorder,  Company  B  found  an  abandoned  battery  and 
attempted  to  drag  it  from  the  field,  but  the  enemy  came  swarm 
ing  up  on  every  side  arid  they  were  forced  to  leave  it,  after  spik 
ing  two  of  the  guns.  So  close  were  the  Confederates  upon  them, 
that  the  boys  were  obliged  to  scatter  in  every  direction.  A  squad 
of  three  bore  off  the  corps  flag  and  saved  it  from  capture.  Three 
several  efforts  were  made  to  cross  over  to  Gen.  Thomas'  posi 
tion,  but  Rebel  troops  were  found  blocking  the  way,  and 
it  was  with  difficulty  they  escaped  capture.  At  one  time,  but 
three  men  were  left  with  Capt.  Sherer.  Learning  from  Gen. 
Davis  that  Crittenden,  McCook  and  Rosecrans  were  in  Chatta 
nooga,  weary  and  despondent,  the  company  made  its  way  into 
town  after  dark. 

Desultory  fighting  continued  for  several  days,  but  no  general 
engagement.  Gradually  our  lines  were  withdrawn  to  the  environs 
of  the  city,  arid  strong  entrenchments  thrown  up.  The  enemy 
located  their  camps  and  batteries  on  the  summits  and  sides  of  the 
surrounding  hills,  and  closely  invested  the  place  on  all  sides 
except  the  north.  Then  succeeded  a  few  days  of  rest  for  Com 
pany  B,  that  during  the  excitement  and  vicissitudes  of  the  pre- 


LACK  OF  FOOD  AND  FORAGE.  771 

vious  month  had  become  worn  down  and  exhausted.  Capt. 
Sherer  was  taken  sick,  and  for  many  days  his  life  was  despaired 
of.  Then  followed  the  long,  gloomy  days  of  starvation  that 
characterized  the  Siege  of  Chattanooga.  Food  and  forage  were 
consumed,  and  only  one  long,  mountain  road  over  which  supplies 
could  be  drawn.  As  the  wants  of  the  men  were  first  to  be  sup 
plied,  forage  was  out  of  the  question,  and  thousands  of  horses 
and  mules  starved  to  death. 

At  a  later  period  Gens.  Crittenden  and  McCook  were  relieved 
from  their  commands,  and  Company  B  escorted  them  as  far  as 
Stevenson.  The  General  very  feelingly  took  leave  of  his  faith 
ful  escort,  and  bestowed  many  encomiums  upon  their  fidelity  and 
gallantry.  Gen.  Hooker  having  arrived  at  Stevenson  on  his  way 
to  the  front,  the  Company  was  commended  to  his  consideration, 
as  being  competent  and  worthy  for  any  position  to  which  they 
might  be  assigned.  During  the  next  few  weeks  they  were 
entrusted  with  the  execution  of  many  important  duties,  one  of 
which  was  the  conducting  of  a  large  herd  of  starving  animals 
from  the  beleaugered  city  to  where  forage  could  be  obtained.  It 
was  a  tedious  job,  and  many  died  upon  the  road,  but  by  far  the 
larger  portion  reached  Stevenson  in  safety. 

While  at  Stevenson,  orders  were  received  for  the  Company  to 
report  to  Gen.  Hooker  for  duty,  then  in  the  valley,  directly  under 
the  frowning  summit  of  Lookout  Mountain.  So  near  was  the 
enemy  that  men  could  be  seen  at  their  games  of  cards,  or  in  the 
performance  of  the  usual  avocation  of  soldiers  in  camp.  At 
times  fierce  cannonading  was  indulged  in  by  the  belligerent 
parties  facing  each  other.  Old  Lookout  was  often  wreathed  in 
smoke  and  flame,  and  made  to  tremble  at  the  explosion  of  hostile 
cannon.  Shot  frequently  struck  in  close  proximity  to  the  Gen 
eral's  quarters  or  rolled  with  fearful  momentum  through  the 
camp,  fortunately  without  loss  to  Company  B. 


772  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

The  dangers,  excitements,  success  and  glory  attending  the 
ever  memorable  day  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  the  battle  above 
the  clouds,  November  24th  and  25th,  1863,  were  shared  by  the 
Company.  The  story  of  Lookout  has  been  often  told,  and  most 
grandly  by  that  inimitable  word  painter,  B.  F.  Taylor,  whose 
sentences  are  sparkling  poems,  and  we  will  not  attempt  with  our 
sluggish  pen  to  repeat  it.  At  times  the  firing  of  guns  was  most 
terrific.  A  hundred  thousand  eyes  from  the  valley  below  sought 
to  penetrate  that  fog  curtain  and  trace  the  sweep  of  Hooker's 
battalions  up  the  rocky  ascent ;  and  when  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  25th  the  rocky  buttresses  were  scaled,  and  the  flag  of 
glory  floated  from  the  highest  mountain  height,  a  tempest  of 
human  voices  went  shouting  to  the  victors  in  a  prolonged  and 
joyful  expression  of  satisfaction  at  the  result.  Capt.  Sherer 
acted  as  aid  to  Gen.  Hooker,  and  throughout  the  engagement 
was  ever  at  his  side.  The  Company  was  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fray,  toiling  up  the  rocky  ascent  with  the  storming  column,  and 
when  night  found  us  in  secure  possession  of  the  mountain,  and 
the  victory  virtually  won,  they  bivouacked  at  the  "white  house," 
midway  between  the  base  and  summit  of  the  mountain. 

Ere  the  morning  light  had  tinged  the  east  and  kissed  the  wav 
ing  folds  of  the  flag  proudly  floating  from  the  summit  above  them, 
Hooker's  columns  were  in  motion.  A  dense  fog  concealed  the 
mountain,  and  covered  the  landscape.  The  morning  was  well 
advanced  before  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  was  rendered  certain, 
and  the  General  enabled  to  take  in  fully  the  situation.  The 
pursuit  was  pressed  in  the  direction  of  Rossville,  followed  by 
more  or  less  fighting  throughout  the  day.  Capt.  Sherer  being 
sent  back  for  ammunition,  was  just  crossing  Lookout  Mountain 
when  Granger's,  Thomas'  and  Sheridan's  Divisions  made  their 
famous  charge  up  the  steep  sides  of  Missionary  Ridge.  The 


BRAGG   11ET11EATING.  773 

sight  was  inspiring  beyond  conception,  one  never  to  be  forgotten, 
and  for  a  time  held  him  spell  bound — an  excited  spectator  of  one 
of  the  grandest  panoramas  of  battle  and  victory  of  the  whole  war. 

Among  the  many  incidents  of  the  day,  the  following  is  related 
of  Henry  P.  Mann,  a  private  of  Company  B.  While  on  his 
way  to  Chattanooga  with  despatches  from  Gen.  Hooker,  he  had 
descended  the  mountain  about  half  wray,  when  he  unexpectedly 
encountered  a  squad  of  nine  Rebel  soldiers.  There  was  little 
time  for  deliberation,  but  thinking  the  boldest  was  the  easiest 
way  out  of  danger,  he  charged  single  handed,  and  by  represent 
ing  that  supports  were  near,  induced  them  to  throw  down  their 
arms  and  surrender,  and  brought  them  in  triumph  to  the  Com 
pany  quarters. 

A  succession  of  brilliant  victories  to  the  Federal  arms  around 
Chattanooga,  put  Bragg  in  rapid  retreat,  Gen.  Hooker  following 
closely,  capturing  many  prisoners  and  guns  on  the  way.  At  Ring- 
gold,  he  found  the  enemy  in  position  to  dispute  his  advance.  Two 
infantry  charges  were  made  and  repulsed  with  loss,  but  the  artillery 
coming  up,  the  enemy  was  shelled  from  his  position  and  retreated 
to  Dalton.  Here  the  pursuit  was  abandoned  and  the  troops 
recalled  to  Chattanooga.  Gen.  Hooker  established  his  headquar 
ters  in  Lookout  Valley,  and  there  for  some  time  Company  B 
remained  inactive. 

Thirty-five  of  the  company  re-enlisted  as  veterans  and  imme 
diately  returned  to  Illinois  on  furlough.  Meanwhile,  all  efforts 
failing  for  the  revocation  of  the  order  attaching  it  to  the 
15th  Cavalry,  the  men  with  a  bad  grace  submitted  to  the 
change.  One  of  its  results  was  the  tender  to  and  acceptance  of 
a  major's  commission  by  Capt.  Sherer,  to  date  from  July  29th, 
1863,  a  tardy,  though  deserving  recognition  of  the  services  of  a 
true  soldier  and  gallant  officer.  He  was  ordered  to  report  to  his 


774  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

regiment  at  Helena,  Arkansas,  and  on  the  12th  of  February, 
1864,  his  connection  with  Company  B  ceased.  Samuel  B. 
Sherer  was  born  in  Montrose,  Susquehanna  County,  Penn.,  Jan. 
7th  1838.  His  father  died  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  and 
without  friends  or  influence,  he  fought  successfully  his  way 
through  life.  When  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  came  west,  as  a 
locomotive  engineer.  When  the  war  broke  out,  he  was  employed 
in  the  post-office  at  Aurora.  Taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  suc 
cess  of  the  National  cause,  we  found  him  at  Camp  Hammond,  a 
2nd  Lieutenant  of  Company  A  Cavalry.  Since  the  Chicago  fire, 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  that  city.  His  past  military  experi 
ence  has  been  duly  appreciated  by  his  fellow  citizens,  and  at  this 
time  he  holds  the  commission  of  Major,  in  the  1st  Regiment 
Illinois  State  Militia. 

Lieut  Francis  E.  Reynolds  succeeded  to  the  Captaincy,  but 
his  resignation  being  accepted  a  few  days  thereafter,  he  was  suc 
ceeded  by  Sergt.  William  Duncan,  whose  personal  bravery  and 
brilliant  exploits  had  attracted  the  notice  of  his  superiors  and 
gained  the  confidence  of  the  company.  2nd  Lieut.  Charles  M. 
Harvey  was  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant,  and  Sergt.  John  A. 
McQueen  was  commissioned  and  mustered  2nd  Lieutenant,  to 
rank  from  February  28th,  1864. 

Unfortunately  the  connection  of  our  story  at  this  point  is  broken 
and  its  interest  impaired,  despite  our  efforts  to  secure  a  report,  a 
diary,  or  an  interview  with  any  of  the  survivors,  that  would 
throw  light  or  information  upon  the  history  of  the  company 
during  the  Atlanta  campaign.  We  are  informed  that  this  was 
the  most  eventful  period  of  its  career.  Those  who  are  person 
ally  acquainted  with  Gen.  Hooker,  and  the  part  he  took  in  the 
bloody  march  through  Northern  Georgia,  must  know  that  his 
escort  and  staff  were  at  no  time  idle,  or  in  want  of  opportunities 
for  personal  adventures  and  deeds  of  daring. 


PERSONAL    ADVENTURES.  775 

Two  or  three  incidents  have  come  to  us  second-hand,  arid 
we  will  give  them.  The  fatigues  of  the  campaign  had  told 
heavily  upon  the  company's  horses,  and  it  became  an  object 
of  solicitude  on  the  part  of  each  trooper  to  secure  a  remount, 
and  when  expeditions  in  the  country  were  made,  no  planta 
tion  or  stable  escaped  a  general  search  from  the  prying  eyes 
of  the  boys.  Their  sharpness  in  trading  their  worn-out  crow- 
baits  with  citizens  for  fresh,  spirited  animals,  must  redound 
to  their  lasting  credit. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  Burnt  Hickory,  Sergt.  Arnick,  and 
the  brothers  Alfred  and  Albert  Small,  were  sent  to  reconnoiter 
the  enemy,  arid  took  occasion  to  engage  in  commercial  pursuits 
as  opportunity  offered.  The  position  of  the  enemy  was  unknown. 
They  followed  a  trail  a  short  distance  up  a  mountain-side,  and 
then  diverging  from  it,  ascended  obliquely,  without  path  or  trail 
to  guide  them  through  the  thickets  which  clothed  the  mountain. 
There  was  a  change  in  the  course  of  the  range,  and  crossing  the 
nose  or  elbow  of  the  hills,  they  suddenly  came  to  a  plantation, 
and  a  large  mansion  surrounded  by  negro  cabins,  with  stables  in 
the  rear.  Amick  sent  his  comrades  to  the  stables,  while  he  rode 
up  to  the  front  of  the  house.  Seeing  army  saddles  in  the  porch, 
he  called  the  proprietor  and  demanded  whose  they  were.  He 
replied  "the  Major's."  "Please  tell  the  Major  I  wish  to  see 
him,"  and  presently  both  came  to  the  door.  To  Amick's  sur 
prise,  he  found  the  major  to  be  a  Rebel  officer.  Just  then,  see 
ing  a  cavalry  camp  near  by,  he  found  himself  fairly  within  the 
Confederate  lines.  Judging  the  boldest  course  to  be  the  safest, 
he  brought  his  revolver  to  bear  upon  the  major  and  ordered  him 
to  surrender.  The  other  boys  coming  up  with  three  fine  horses, 
they  were  saddled,  and  mounting  their  prisoner,  they  plunged 
into  the  brush  and  rode  rapidly  away.  The  alarm  was  given, 


776  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and  the  Confederate  troop  quickly  saddled  and  set  out  in  pursuit. 
In  his  haste,  Amick  became  confused  and  lost  his  way,  but  while 
wandering  in  the  woods,  he  came  upon  two  citizens,  mounted 
and  armed  with  shot-guns,  whom  he  took  prisoners,  and  with 
cocked  revolvers  at  their  heads  compelled  them  to  pilot  him  into 
the  Federal  lines,  with  three  prisoners  and  five  fresh  horses. 

Notwithstanding  Johnston's  stout  resistance,  our  army  steadily 
pushed  him  back,  and  on  the  25th  of  May  he  was  found  at  New 
Hope  Church  and  Dallas.  The  20th  Corps  was  in  the  center 
and  led  the  advance.  In  the  afternoon  Hooker  approached 
Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  and  found  the  bridge  crossing  it  in  pos 
session  of  a  cavalry  force,  which  was  speedily  driven  oft",  but  not 
before  they  had  fired  the  bridge.  The  fire  was  extinguished, 
and  a  barn  near  by  torn  down  arid  the  material  used  for  its 
repair.  A  hot  fire  from  the  woods  was  kept  upon  the  men  at 
work,  but  as  soon  as  the  last  plank  was  laid,  Gen.  Hooker  with 
Company  B  crossed  over,  charged  the  enemy  and  drove  them 
some  distance  until  they  were  reinforced  and  it  was  considered 
unsafe  to  venture  further.  The  retreat  was  sounded,  and  all 
retired  except  George  Winchester,  who  was  particularly  anxious 
to  get  in  another  shot.  He  soon  came  up  with  the  Company, 

remarking,  as  he  took  his  place  in  line,  "  I'll  teach  the  d d 

son-of-a-gun  to  shoot  at  me."  A  dead  Rebel  was  afterward  found 
on  the  spot,  amd  it  was  believed  that  George  had  actually  taught 
liim. 

Atlanta  was  at  length  reached  after  more  than  three  months 
continuous  fighting.  Our  forces  were  closing  in  upon  the  city, 
and  the  belcaugered  enemy  was  contending  desperately  for  its 
preservation.  The  hostile  lines  were  near  to  each  other,  often 
within  short  range.  Gen.  Hooker,  always  brave,  often  rash,  on 
the  evening  of  July  24th,  passed  in  front  of  his  entrenchments 


COMPANY  B  HOWARD'S  ESCORT.  777 

and  just  in  rear  of  the  outer  picket  line  to  inspect  the  enemy's 
position  and  works.  A  number  of  shots,  fired  by  Rebel  sharp 
shooters,  passed  very  near,  but  without  heeding  the  hissing 
bullets  cutting  the  air  around  him,  he  continued  the  reconnois- 
sance.  John  Baker,  his  orderly,  and  a  member  of  Company  B, 
was  just  in  rear  of  the  General,  and  at  the  second  discharge  was 
shot  through  the  body  and  killed.  This  was  the  first  member 
of  the  Company  that  was  killed  outright  by  the  enemy. 

At  last  Atlanta  was  taken,  and  the  remnants  of  the  Confed 
erate  army  under  the  command  of  Hood,  gathered  at  or  near 
Lovejoy's  Station,  on  the  Macon  Railroad,  but  made  no  hostile 
movements,  and  a  period  of  quiet  and  rest  ensued.  Gen. 
Hooker  was  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  20th  Corps,  and 
succeeded  by  Gen.  0.  0.  Howard,  who  retained  Company  B  as 
his  escort.  There  being  no  longer  any  hope  of  rescinding  the 
order  of  assignment  to  the  15th  Cavalry,  from  henceforth  we 
will  designate  it  as  Company  K,  15th  Illinois  Cavalry. 

The  latter  part  of  September  Hood  began  to  manifest  unusual 
activity,  and  shifted  his  position  from  our  front  to  the  flank,  while 
his  cavalry  were  found  raiding  in  the  rear  arid  menacing  our  long, 
slender  line  of  communication.  When,  on  the  3rd  of  October, 
Hood  was  reported  in  person  with  his  whole  army  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Marietta,  Gen.  Sherman  was  not  taken  by  surprise. 
Succeeding  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  his  army  had  undergone  many 
changes.  New  organizations  and  commanders  took  the  place  of 
old.  Gen.  Thomas  was  despatched  to  Tennessee  with  the  4th 
and  23rd  Corps  ;  and  the  14th  and  16th  Corps  were  broken  up 
and  merged  into  the  15th  and  17th,  forming  a  single  grand  divis 
ion,  known  as  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  commanded  by  Gen. 
Howard.  Company  K  still  remained  with  that  officer  as  escort 
and  body  guard,  but  its  duties  were  so  infinite  that  with  truth  it 

50 


778  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

may  be  said  it  was  independent,  and  attached  to  no  particular 
command  or  commander. 

At  length  the  railroad  was  tapped,  and  communication  with 
the  outer  world  cut  off.  Leaving  Gen.  Slocum  with  the  20th 
Corps  at  Atlanta,  Sherman  proceeded  with  his  available  forces  to 
break  the  blockade  and  restore  his  line  of  communication,  which 
taxed  the  ingenuity  and  energy  of  the  army  to  its  utmost  to 
accomplish.  For  more  than  a  month  Sherman  was  chasing 
Hood  from  position  to  position,  but  could  not  succeed  in  drawing 
him  into  a  pitched  battle. 

During  this  period  of  activity  and  ceaseless  marching,  Com 
pany  K  was  almost  constantly  on  the  move.  First  to  Marietta, 
where  the  distant  rumble  of  Corse's  cannon  at  Allatoona  was 
faintly  heard,  while  Sherman  signaled  from  the  top  of  Kenesaw, 
over  the  heads  of  his  enemy,  for  him  to  stand  firm  as  help  was 
near ;  and  when  in  reply  Corse  signaled  back  a  victory,  the  whole 
army  felt  relieved. 

On  the  llth  of  October  we  find  the  Company  at  Kingston,  on 
the  12th  at  Rome,  the  13th  at  Adairsville,  the  14th  at  Resaca, 
the  loth  and  16th  at  Snake  Creek  Gap  and  Taylor's  Ridge,  on 
the  17th  at  Lafayette,  and  then  at  Grayville,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Chattanooga.  Let  the  reader  examine  a  map  and  follow  the 
various  meanderings  of  the  Company,  he  will  be  astonished  at 
the  length  of  its  marches  and  extent  of  territory  traversed. 

The  consummate  skill  and  vigor  of  Sherman,  the  celerity  of 
his  movements,  together  with  two  or  three  repulses,  taught  the 
enemy  a  lesson  and  he  wisely  withdrew  to  Gadsderi.  Having 
driven  Hood  from  the  railroad,  and  all  arrangements  being  com 
pleted,  Sherman  in  turn  abandoned  it,  sent  the  troops  destined 
to  operate  under  Thomas  to  Chattanooga,  while  he  returned  to 
Atlanta. 


THE  ARMY  LEAVES  ATLANTA.  779 

• 

Early  on  the  morning  of  November  15th  his  columns  were 
again  in  motion  headed  eastward,  Atlanta  was  left  tenantless,  a 
heap  of  smoking  ruins,  and  the  march  to  the  sea  was  commenced. 
Gen.  Sherman  in  his  memoirs,  in  describing  the  scene,  says : 
'•  Away  off  in  the  distance  on  the  McDonough  road,  was  the  rear 
of  Howard's  column,  the  gun  barrels  glistening  in  the  sun,  the 
white  topped  wagons  stretching  away  to  the  south,  and  right 
before  us  the  14th  Corps,  marching  steadily  and  rapidly,  with  a 
cheery  look  and  swinging  pace  that  made  light  of  the  thousand 
miles  that  lay  between  us  and  Richmond.  Some  band  by  acci 
dent  struck  up  the  anthem  of  'John  Brown's  soul  goes  marching 
on,'  the  men  caught  up  the  strain,  and  never  before  or  since 
have  I  heard  the  chorus  of  '  Glory,  Glory,  Hallelujah  !'  done 
with  more  spirit  or  in  better  harmony  of  time  and  place." 

The  right  wing,  under  Gen.  Howard,  after  leaving  Atlanta, 
pursued  a  southerly  course,  in  the  direction  of  Macon,  reaching 
the  Ocmulgee  River  on  the  18th,  and  crossing  it  on  pontoons.  The 
15th  Corps  then  diverged  to  the  east,  towards  Gordon,  while  the 
17th  continued  to  the  neighborhood  of  Macon.  Gen.  Howard 
marched  with  the  former  column,  and  Company  K  led  the  advance. 
But  little  opposition  was  encountered,  and  an  abundance  of  supplies 
was  obtained  from  the  bountiful  harvest  of  the  preceding  sea 
son.  Capt.  Duncan  was  put  in  charge  of  Gen.  Howard's  scouts, 
and  Lieut.  McQueen  throughout  the  march  was  in  command  of 
the  company.  Duncan,  with  his  usual  intrepidity  and  daring, 
was  generally  many  miles  in  advance  of  the  marching  column, 
in  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  and  frequently  within  their 
lines.  Disguised  as  a  Rebel  officer,  or  an  unsophisticated  coun 
tryman,  as  suited  his  purpose,  he  was  enabled  to  examine  the 
routes  to  be  followed  and  ascertain  the  whereabouts,  strength  and 
intention  of  the  enemy,  and  faithfully  report  the  combinations 


780  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

being  formed  to  obstruct  or  resist  the  march.  There  is  no  romance 
more  thrilling  than  the  story  of  Capt.  Duncan's  adventures  in 
the  Great  March.  He  had  learned  the  vernacular  of  the  South 
erners  perfectly ,  and  under  his  disguises  could  find  out  all  he  desired 
relative  to  the  country  and  plans  of  the  enemy.  At  the  wayside 
houses,  he  was  served  with  the  best  the  country  afforded,  while 
negroes  were  set  to  watch  his  horses,  to  keep  the  u  Yanks"  from 
stealing  them. 

Milledgeville,  the  capitol  of  Georgia — situated  about  one  hun 
dred  miles  from  Atlanta — was  the  first  objective  point.  Two 
days  in  advance  of  the  army,  Capt.  Duncan,  with  five  compan 
ions,  entered  the  city,  and  finding  that  the  military  had  fled  and 
the  frightened  inhabitants  were  in  the  highest  state  of  excite 
ment, — too  intent  in  caring  for  their  own  precious  selves,  to 
bestow  any  attention  upon  him,  his  party  removed  their  disguises, 
went  boldly  to  the  mayor  and  demanded  the  keys  of  the  city, 
which  were  promptly  surrendered.  There  were  at  the  time  over 
one  hundred  Rebel  soldiers,  including  stragglers  and  conval 
escents — enough  to  have  exterminated  the  scouts,  had  not  their 
fears  got  the  better  of  their  judgment.  Before  leaving  the  city, 
the  Confederate  authorities  released  the  convicts  from  the  State 
Penitentiary  and  armed  them,  so  Duncan,  finding  that  institu 
tion  empty,  set  fire  to  and  consumed  it,  together  with  arsenals  and 
magazines.  Negroes  from  the  country  in  vast  crowds  came  flock 
ing  in,  greeting  the  scouts  with  such  exclamations  as,  "*  Tanks  be 
to  Almighty  God,  de  Yankees  hab  come." 

The  next  morning,  Sergt.  Amick,  with  five  other  scouts  came 
in  as  a  welcome  reinforcement,  and  in  the  evening,  Duncan  was 
further  re-inforced  by  Gen.  Slocum,  with  the  20th  Corps.  In 
coming  up,  the  General  from  a  distance  saw  the  commotion  in 
the  city,  caused  by  the  influx  of  negroes  thronging  the  streets, 


THE    MARCH    THROUGH    GEORGIA.  781 

and  taking  them  for  Confederate  troops,  threw  out  his  pickets, 
brought  up  his  batteries,  and  deployed  his  men,  in  anticipation 
of  a  bloody  engagement.  Overtaking  an  old  negro,  the  General 
inquired  the  number  and  character  of  the  forces  in  the  city, 
when  the  astonished  darkey  replied,  "  Bress  yer  heart,  massa,  de 
Yankees  am  dar!"  Gen.  Slocum  was  exceedingly  crestfallen 
and  enraged  at  the  audacity  of  the  scouts  in  getting  before  him 
and  reaping  the  glory  of  capturing  the  capitol  of  Georgia,  and 
at  once  ordered  their  arrest,  but  about  that  time  the  boys  were 
not  to  be  found,  except  one,  and  he  by  a  clever  ruse  escaped. 

The  story  of  the  Great  March  has  been  told  often  and  well. 
It  is  not  the  design  of  this  sketch  to  repeat  it.  It  was  like  a 
grand,  triumphal  procession,  through  one  of  the  most  fertile  regions 
of  the  South.  There  was  but  little  opposition  encountered,  and 
scarcely  a  foraging  party  was  driven  in  or  molested. 

As  the  army  neared  Savannah,  its  destination  was  apparent  to 
those  who  wished  to  avoid  the  track  of  the  invader.  The  scouts  and 
foragers  were  usually  many  miles  in  advance,  and  none  were  posi 
tively  sure  of  escaping  the  prying  eyes  of  the  dreaded  Yankees.  At 
one  point  a  train  of  heavily  laden  cars  was  captured  by  Lieut.  Mc 
Queen,  just  as  it  was  on  the  point  of  moving  away  on  a  branch 
road,  that  would  have  taken  it  beyond  the  sweep  of  the  Federal  col 
umns.  The  locomotive  and  cars  were  destroyed,  and  among  the 
captured  was  a  Confederate  colonel,  the  President  of  the  Georgia 
Central  Railroad,  and  a  number  of  soldiers  and  prominent  cit 
izens. 

The  right  wing,  under  Gen.  Howard,  reached  the  Ogeechee 
river  December  8th,  1864,  and  found  the  bridges  burned  and  all 
boats  destroyed.  In  anticipation  of  such  a  condition  of  things, 
an  illy  constructed  canoe  or  "  dug  out "  had  been  brought  from  the 
interior,  and  was  the  only  craft  at  hand  for  crossing.  Gen. 


782  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

Sherman  was  anxious  to  communicate  with  the  fleet,  which  he 
had  reason  to  believe  was  awaiting  him  somewhere  off  the  coast. 
Capt.  Duncan,  Sergt.  Amick  and  Corp.  Quimby  volunteered  to 
take  a  message  to  the  fleet,  and  as  soon  as  darkness  had  shadowed 
the  landscape,  they  started  down  the  river  on  their  perilous  voy 
age.  They  passed  under  King's  bridge  while  it  was  yet  burning, 
saw  Rebel  pickets  stationed  along  the  banks,  and  heard  the  prayers 
and  singing  of  negroes  who  were  holding  a  meeting  at  one  of  the 
wayside  plantations.  In  the  rice  swamps  were  millions  of  wild 
ducks,  chattering  a  good-night  quack  previous  to  retiring. 
Towards  morning  the  ebb  tide  set  in,  arid  finding  it  difficult  to 
make  headway  against  it,  they  hauled  their  boat  on  shore,  and 
cautiously  approached  the  negro  quarters  on  McAllister's  planta 
tion.  Awakening  the  inmates  of  a  cabin,  they  gave  them  to 
understand  that  they  were  Yankees,  and  in  need  of  food  and  rest. 
The  poor  slaves  were  only  too  glad  to  supply  their  wants,  and  as 
daylight  was  approaching,  assisted  in  concealing  the  boat  in  a 
cypress  swamp  and  themselves  in  a  belt  of  timber,  where  by  laying 
close  during  the  day  they  were  not  discovered. 

At  night  the  faithful  negroes,  having  supplied  them  with  food, 
piloted  them  back  to  their  "dug  out,"  and  being  warned  of  tor 
pedoes  and  other  obstructions  to  the  navigation  of  the  river,  the 
scouts  were  off  with  the  tide.  The  moon  shone  brightly,  and  they 
proceeded  rapidly  arid  blithely  along,  when  suddenly  a  dark  cloud 
gathered  over  the  face  of  the  moon,  and  the  darkness  seemed 
intense.  Turning  a  bend,  a  dark  object  loomed  athwart  their 
path,  and  before  they  were  aware  of  it  they  were  alongside  a 
Rebel  gunboat  which  was  anchored  in  the  stream.  The  sentinel 
was  heard  walking  the  deck,  and  the  hum  of  voices  from  those  on 
board  was  wafted  to  their  ears.  Silently  they  pushed  away  from 
the  dangerous  craft,  and  when  the  cloud  passed,  they  were  at  a 
safe  distance  from  the  hostile  vessel. 


DANGEROUS   TRIP   TO   THE   FLEET.  783 

Just  below  was  Fort  McAllister  looming  up  in  the  bend  of  the 
river,  but  it  was  passed  without  molestation,  and  their  little  itp  dug 
out"  swept  gracefully  through  the  narrow  intervals  between  the 
spiles  driven  across  the  river.     They  heard  and  saw  the  Confed 
erates  at  work  strengthening  the  fort,  but  chose  not  to  exchange 
compliments  with  them.     The  ebb  tide  setting  against  them,  they 
lay  by  on  an  uninhabited  island  the  greater  part  of  the  next  day, 
and  being  without  food  or  fresh  water,  their   sufferings   became 
intense.     When  the  tide  began  to  flow,  they  embark  e*d  again  and 
rushed  rapidly   seaward.     Soon   the  heavy  ocean  swells  tossed 
their  boat,  the  headlands  disappeared,  and  they  began  to  realize 
their  critical  situation.     Hungry,  thirsty  and  nearly  exhausted, 
hope  and  courage  forsook  them.     Looking  seaward,  the  masts  of 
vessels  appeared  in  sight,  which  proved  to  be  a  part  of  the  Fed 
eral  blockading  fleet.     When  the  man  at  the  masthead  saw  the 
strange  craft  approaching,  a  boat  was  sent  to  meet  the  boys.     If 
ever    men  were  happy,  these  half  dead-scouts  were  at  sight  of 
the  stars  and  stripes.     They  were  taken  to  the  flag  ship,  and  their 
frail  "dug  out"  was  hoisted  on  board  and  subsequently   carried 
to  Washington,  where  the  curious  relic  hunter  may  find  it  in  the 
Navy  Yard,  a  highly  prized  memento  of  one  of  the  most  daring 
adventures  of  the  war. 

We  are  reminded  that  our  "  History  "  has  already  overstepped 
its  proposed  bounds,  and  we  are  compelled  to  pass  over  many 
incidents  that  we  doubt  not  would  be  full  of  interest  to  the  reader. 
The  storming  of  Fort  McAllister,  the  investment  of  Savannah,  and 
the  surrender  of  the  city  with  its  vast  arsenals  and  store-houses, 
have  all  been  told  by  others  and  need  not  be  repeated  here.  We 
have  before  us  the  diary  of  Lieut.  McQueen,  and  from  it  we  learn 
that  while  on  the  march  from  Pocotaligo  through  South  Carolina, 
Daniel  Reynolds  was  captured  by  the  enemy  January  30th,  1865, 


784  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

and  was  never  heard  of  afterward.  Capt.  Duncan  returned  and 
again  took  command  of  the  Company,  while  Lieut.  McQueen 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  scouts. 

From  Pocotaligo,  the  righj;  wing,  under  Gen.  0.  0.  Howard,  pur 
sued  its  toilsome  march,  over  roads  rendered  almost  impassable  by 
frequent  rains  and  Rebel  obstructions ;  through  forests  and 
swamps  ;  crossing  swollen  streams  on  hastily  constructed  tempo 
rary  bridges — the  others  having  been  burned  by  the  enemy.  Com 
pany  K  wate  usually  in  front,  and  in  conjunction  with  the  scouts 
captured  many  prisoners,  horses  and  mules.  The  haughty  South 
Carolinians  were  enraged  at  seeing  their  State  overrun  and  rav 
aged  by  the  "greasy  Yankees,"  and  each  angle  of  the  road, 
crossing  of  a  river  or  swamp,  became  the  scene  of  spirited 
engagements.  The  coolness  of  the  well-trained  Northern  sold 
iers  and  their  confidence  in  themselves,  gave  them  decided  advan 
tages  over  the  hot  and  impetuous  Southerners. 

On  the  17th  of  February,  Columbia,  the  capitol  of  the  State, 
surrendered,  and  Gen.  Logan  hastened  to  take  possession.  The 
Confederate  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  left  the  city  as  Col.  Stone 
with  the  advance  entered  it.  Vast  quantities  of  liquor  were  left 
in  the  place,  and  very  many  of  the  men,  not  being  properly 
restrained,  became  intoxicated,  and  with  passions  stimulated,  riot 
and  confusion  ensued.  Cotton  and  merchandise  of  every  desrip- 
tion  littered  the  streets,  some  of  it  on  fire.  A  high  wind  arose, 
and  it  is  perhaps  true  that  a  few  of  the  drunken,  untamed  spirits, 
instead  of  exerting  themselves  to  extinguish  the  smouldering  fire, 
assisted  in  its  spread.  At  nine  o'clock  at  night,  much  to  the  sur 
prise  and  regret  of  Gen.  Sherman,  the  central  and  most  com 
pactly  built  portion  of  the  city  was  found  to  be  on  fire.  The 
howling  wind,  the  raging  flames,  the  falling  walls,  the  explosion 
of  fixed  ammunition  stored  in  various  places  along  the  track  of 


LIEUT.  MCQUEEN'S  SERVICES.  785 

the  devouring  element,  and  the  agonizing  cry  of  helpless  women 
and  children,  all  formed  a  picture  of  horror,  never  to  be  forgot 
ten.  Hearts  were  touched  at  the  sights  and  sounds  around  them, 
and  officers  generally  exerted  themselves  to  stay  the  conflagra 
tion  and  rescue  people  and  property  from  its  ravages. 

Prominent  among  these  was  Lieut  McQueen,  who  was  instru 
mental  in  rescuing  many  buildings  from  the  flames  and  their 
contents  from  pillage.  One  of  these  was  the  residence  of  the 
venerable  Dr.  Reynolds,  with  whom  the  Rev.  A.  Toomer  Porter 
and  family  were  temporarily  stopping.  Mr.  Porter,  in  relating 
his  experience  during  that  fearful  night,  says  :  "  Helpless,  almost 
hopeless,  not  knowing  what  terrible  fate  awaited  us,  in  this 
extremity  God  raised  up  a  devoted  friend  in  the  person  of  Lieut. 
John  A.  McQueen,  of  the  15th  Illinois  Cavalry — which  was  the 
escort  of  Gen.  0.  0.  Howard.  During  the  entire  stay  of  the 
Federal  army  in  the  now  blackened  and  ruined  city,  this  devoted 
officer  never  forsook  us — giving  us  all  the  protection  he  possibly 
could,  and  it  was  only  when  the  last  company  of  United  States 
soldiers  had  departed  that  he  took  his  leave."  On  parting  with 
him,  Mr.  Porter  placed  in  the  hands  of  McQueen,  a  letter 
addressed  to  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  or  other  Confederate  officer 
into  whose  custody  he  might  fall,  to  be  used  by  him  should  the 
chances  of  war  throw  him  into  the  enemy's  hands. 

Numerous  and  exciting  were  the  adventures  of  the  Company 
and  scouts  on  the  northward  march  from  Columbia.  On  the 
21st,  near  Anderson's  Cross-roads,  they  surprised  and  captured 
a  part  of  Butler's  Brigade,  and  on  the  same  day  skirmished  with 
a  mounted  party  of  twenty,  wounding  one  and  routing  the 
remainder.  On  the  23rd,  while  on  the  road  to  Camden,  learn 
ing  that  a  company  of  militia  were  between  them  and  the  town, 
a  party  of  but  seven  men  surprised  the  camp,  took  the  company 


78(3  THIRTY-SIXTH   ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

prisoners  and  destroyed  their  arms.  In  this  affair,  Quimby  was 
wounded  in  the  thigh.  February  15th,  the  advance,  comprising 
Company  K  and  a  part  of  the  4th  Ohio  Cavalry,  under  Oapt. 
Duncan,  captured  Caniden.  A  lively  skirmish  ensued,  but  Gen 
Corse  coming  up  with  his  Division,  the  Rebel  cavalry  was  driven 
so  rapidly,  as  to  rescue  a  number  of  our  prisoners  who  had  been 
removed  to  that  place  for  safe  keeping.  The  railroad  bridge,  two 
thousand  bales  of  cotton  and  other  property  was  burned.  The 
fire  appeared  likely  to  spread  over  the  town,  but  by  McQueen's 
exertions  it  was  extinguished.  Among  the  houses  saved  by  him, 
were  the  residences  of  Mrs.  Reynolds,  Mrs.  Kennedy  and  Bishop 
Davis. 

February  27th,  Capt.  Duncan  was  ordered  to  proceed  with  his 
Company  across  Lynch's  Creek,  and  destroy  the  railroad  bridge 
at  Sparrow  swamp.  It  was  a  long  and  dangerous  march,  but 
the  orders  were  carried  out  to  the  letter.  The  sun  had  set,  and 
darkness  was  coming  on  when  a  point  was  reached  where  four 
roads  met,  not  far  from  Mt.  Elon.  A  halt  was  ordered,  and  the 
Captain  and  Lieut.  McQueen  were  consulting  as  to  the  propriety 
of  going  into  camp,  when  suddenly  a  force  of  Rebel  cavalry 
dashed  in  upon  them.  "Who  are  you?"  asked  the  Rebel  com 
mander.  "  The  15th  Illinois,"  was  Duncan's  reply,  "  and  who 
are  you  ?"  "Butler's  command  !"  and  pop,  pop,  pop,  from  pistol 
and  carbine  was  the  next  salutation,  and  men  were  seen  to  fall  on 
both  sides.  The  Confederates  outnumbered  Duncan's  command 
three  to  one,  and  after  emptying  their  revolvers  both  parties  fled 
precipitately  from  the  scene  of  the  encounter.  The  Confederates 
left  their  commander,  Brig.  Gren.  Aikin,  dead  on  the  spot,  and 
several  others  killed  and  wounded.  Of  Duncan's  party,  Henry 
Irish  was  killed  ;  Thomas  Crayon,  Daniel  Reynolds  and  Henry 
Ilanley  were  wounded  or  captured.  Lieut.  McQueen  was  shot 


INSTANCE   OP   REBEL   GRATITUDE.  .       787 

through  the  body,  but  managed  to  retain  his  position  in  his  sad 
dle  until  reaching  a  negro's  cabin,  he  could  go  no  further,  and 
directed  his  comrades  to  leave  him  there. 

The  negroes,  thinking  he  would  die,  made  known  his  situation 
to  the  white  people  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the  letter  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Porter  secured  for  him  good  treatment  and  immunity 
from  harm.  At  various  times  squads  of  Confederate  soldiers  and 
militia  came  with  the  avowed  intention  of  killing  him,  but  the 
letter  was  the  means  of  saving  his  life.  Mrs.  Reynolds,  and 
other  ladies  at  Camden,  hearing  of  McQueen's  critical  situation, 
and  gratefuJ  for  his  services  in  saving  their  homes  from  the  tiaines, 
sent  him  many  comforts  in  the  way  of  food  and  clothing. 
Eventually  he  was  removed  to  Camden,  and  cared  for  by  those 
friends  whom  God  had  raised  up  in  the  heart  of  the  Confederacy. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Porter,  of  Columbia,  hearing  of  McQueen's  dan 
ger,  hastened  to  his  assistance,  performing  a  part  of  the  journey 
on  foot.  No  efforts  were  spared. for  his  comfort  and  recovery. 
As  soon  as  he  was  able,  a  mule  and  buggy  of  quaint  pattern 
and  ancient  date  was  procured,  and  by  Mr.  Porter  he  was  con 
veyed  to  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  then  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  and 
by  that  officer  was  unconditionally  released  without  parol. 
Mr.  Porter  has  kindly  furnished  the  writer  with  twenty-four 
sheets  of  manuscript,  giving  fully  the  interesting  story  of  Lieut. 
John  A.  McQueen,  from  which  we  are  able  to  give  only  the  fore 
going  extract.  It  is  a  pleasure  for  us  to  note  the  disinterested 
kindness  of  these  good  people,  so  in  contrast  with  the  heartless- 
ness  of  Wurtz,  the  commander  at  Andersonville,  and  of  Jeff. 
Davis,  who  gloated  over  the  suffering  and  death  of  Federal  pris 
oners  of  war. 

The  15th  Corps,  with  which  Gen.  Sherman  then  was  march 
ing,  reached  Laurel  Hill  in  North  Carolina  March  8th.  Satisfied 


788  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

that  Wilmington  had  been  approached  from  the  sea,  and  ought 
to  be  and  perhaps  was  in  our  possession,  the  General  called  his 
favorite  scout  (Corp.  Pike)  and  sent  him  in  disguise  to  convey 
intelligence  of  our  approach.  The  distance  was  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  miles,  and  to  guard  against  failure  it  was  deter 
mined  to  send  another  message,  and  Gen.  Howard  was  called 
upon  to  furnish  a  man  to  carry  it.  Sergt.  Amick  and  Quimby, 
of  Company  K,  were  selected.  The  despatch  was  written  in  the 
smallest  space  possible  and  concealed  in  the  end  of  a  plug  of 
tobacco,  so  that  in  case  of  mishap,  it  could  readily  be  chewed  up 
without  exciting  suspicion.  Pike  had  set  out  nine  hours  in 
advance,  and  the  prospects  of  his  reaching  Wilmington  first  were 
in  his  favor.  The  scouts  found  it  difficult  getting  into  the  Rebel 
lines,  but  when  fairly  among  them,  their  Confederate  uniform 
and  Southern  accent  warded  off'  suspicion.  Indeed,  much  of  the 
way  Wade  Hampton's  soldiers  escorted  and  assisted  them.  The 
lady  of  the  house  where  they  stopped  for  breakfast  was  garrulous, 
and  had  many  questions  to  ask  relative  to  the  war  and  the  hated 
"  Yankees,"  and  finally  asked,  "Where  do  you  suppose  Sherman 
will  go  to  next?"  For  once  forgetting  the  character  of  a  Rebel 
officer  he  had  assumed,  Amick  replied,  "  We  never  know  until 
we  get  there."  Quimby,  ever  on  his  guard,  gave  such  a  look 
that  Amick  at  once  comprehended  the  nature  of  his  thoughtless 
reply.  Ten  miles  further  on,  while  negotiating  for  a  fresh  horse, 
a  Rebel  captain  and  two  men  rode  up  from  the  direction  they  had 
come.  From  his  actions  and  the  questions  asked,  Amick  sus 
pected  that  the  lady  where  he  had  breakfasted  had  communicated 
to  him  her  suspicions.  To  put  an  end  to  his  questioning,  Amick 
suddenly  drew  his  revolver,  and  levelling  it  at  the  officer,  said, 
"  T  believe  youans  are  Yankee  spies  ;  so  surrender!  Tf  my  sus 
picions  are  correct,  youans  will  hang  as  sure  as  fate ;  so  prove 


COMMISSION    OF    SERGT.    AMICK.  780 

yourselves  clar."  The  Confederate  officer  taken  by  surprise, 
protested  his  loyalty  to  the  South,  and  fairly  proved  himself  a 
genuine  Rebel.  Amick  apologized  for  his  seeming  mistake  and 
passed  on.  Near  Wilmington  it  was  with  difficulty  they  avoided 
Rebel  pickets,  and  were  once  chased  into  the  swamps.  Reaching 
Wilmington  they  communicated  with  Gen.  Terry  two  days  ahead 
of  Pike.  In  an  hour  or  two  transports  were  sent  up  Cape  Fear 
river,  and  on  the  12th  the  whistle  of  a  steamboat  thrilled  through 
the  Federal  camps  at  Fayetteville.  Gen.  Sherman  in  his  memoirs 
says  of  this  adventure,  "I  also  called  on  Gen.  Howard  for 
another  volunteer,  and  he  brought  me  a  very  clever  young  ser 
geant,  who  is  now  a  commissioned  officer  in  the  regular  army." 
The  fact  is,  the  commission  was  given  Amick  by  Gen.  Sherman 
as  a  reward  for  his  pluck  and  success  on  this  occasion. 

The  city  of  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina,  was  captured  by  our 
cavalry  company,  re-inforced  by  details  from  other  commands, 
numbering  in  all  about  one  hundred  men,  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  Duncan.  The  Confederate  Generals  Hampton  and  Har- 
dee,  with  other  officers,  were  at  breakfast,  and  would  have  been 
taken  prisoners,  had  Capt.  Duncan  known  of  their  presence  in 
town.  Duncan  passed  through  the  city  and  skirmished  with  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  stationed  on  a  hill  beyond,  when  Gen.  Hamp 
ton  by  a  circuitous  route  joined  his  command,  and  charging  down 
upon  Duncan  with  an  overwhelming  force,  scattered  his  detachment, 
killing  some  and  making  others  prisoners,  among  them,  Capt.  Dun 
can.  We  copy  from  Sheridan's  memoirs,  as  follows  :  "  While  the  bat 
tle  of  Averysboro  was  in  progress,  and  I  was  sitting  on  my  horse,  I 
was  approached  by  a  man  on  foot,  without  shoes  or  coat,  and  his  head 
bandaged  by  a  handkerchief.  He  announced  himself  as  Capt. 
Duncan,  who  had  been  captured  by  Wade  Hampton  in  Fayette 
ville,  but  had  escaped.  On  my  inquiring  how  he  came  to  be  in 


790  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

that  plight,  he  explained  that  when  he  was  a  prisoner,  Wade 
Hampton's  men  had  made  him  "  get  out  of  his  hat,  coat  and 
shoes,"  which  they  appropriated  to  themselves.  He  said  that 
Wade  Hampton  had  seen  them  do  it,  and  he  had  appealed  to  him 
personally  for  protection,  as  an  officer,  but  Hampton  answered 
him  with  a  curse.  I  sent  Duncan  to  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  and  heard 
afterwards  that  the  latter  had  compelled  the  Rebel  prisoner  Col. 
Rhett  to  march  on  foot  the  rest  of  the  way  to  Goldsboro,  in  retal 
iation." 

In  all  of  the  subsequent  operations  in  the  campaign  through 
the  Carolinas,  the  Plato  Cavalry  (Company  K)  bore  a  conspicu 
ous  part.  A  full  account  of  all  its  marches  and  exploits  would 
fill  a  volume.  We  are  not  informed  of  its  operations  after  leav 
ing  Goldsboro,  and  can  only  add,  that  perhaps  no  company  of 
cavalry  in  the  whole  volunteer  service  has  a  brighter  or  more 
glorious  record.  The  company  was  included  in  the  order  of  con 
solidation  with  the  10th  Illinois,  but  retained  its  letter  K.  It 
was  mustered  from  service  Sept.  23,  1865,  and  at  this  time, 
many  of  its  members,  though  scattered  far  and  near,  are  among 
the  most  honored  and  trusted  citizens  of  the  Republic  they  did 
so  much  to  save. 

VETERANS 

Myron  J.  Ainick  Nathan   H.  Lark  in 

Edwin  E.  Balch  Abijah  A.  Lee 

Nathaniel  Brow  a  John  A.  McQueen 

Henry  Ball  William  Meehan 

George  W.  Campbell  Henry  Nelson 

Charles  Cooley  Thomas  C.  Pennington 

Walter  S.  Clark  George  J.  Pettingill 

William  J.  Christie  Jeremiah  Phelan 

Robert  Collins  William  H.  Pease 

Robert  N.  Chrysler  George  Perkins 

William  Duncan  Peter  I).  Porchette 

Eugene  H.  Griggs  Aimer  A.  Pease 

John  Gilbert  Daniel  Reynolds 

Robert  Gallaher  Earle  Robinson 

Jerry  Hickey  John  Wagner 


COMPANY    RECRUITS.  791 

RECRUITS. 

George  W.  Clark  Henry  P.  Mann 

Thomas  Cray  011  Morgan  McNall 

Thomas  Dougherty  John  Powell 

James  M.  Dougherty  William  H.  Rowe 

Robert  J.  Eakiii  Willett  Richardson 

Henry  Eschrich  Willis  Richardson 

Henry  L.  Forbs  Alfred  Small 

Charles  M.  Harvey  Albert  Small 

Henry  H.  Hanley  Jacob  P.  Thompson 

Henry  Irish  Morris  D.  Vanockcr 

James  Moore  Hiram  Waite 


APPENDIX. 


JOHN    A.    PORTER. 

In  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Resaca,  was 
the  name  of  John  A.  Porter,  of  Company  C.  As  given  on  page 
585,  it  simply  states  that  he  was  stunned.  It  should  have  stated 
that  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  head,  and  we  will  add  that 
he  lay  insensible  for  hours  and  has  never  fully  recovered  from 
its  effects. 


LIEUT.  ELLIOTT'S  NARRATIVE. 

Among  the  officers  of  the  36th  captured  at  Stone  River  was 
Lieut.  John  F.  Elliott,  of  Company  K.  Before  the  battle  a 
couple  of  officers  had  made  a  wager,  and  deposited  a  ten  dollar 
Confederate  note  with  him.  The  note  was  what  was  known  as 
ufac-simile"  by  the  boys,  which  passed  current  in  the  South 
except  with  the  sharper  classes.  While  at  Atlanta,  Lieut.  Bur- 
rett,  of  the  21st  Michigan,  wanted  to  borrow  money  of  Elliott, 
who  gave  him  "fac-simile."  Burrett  went  to  a  Jew  clothing 
store,  where  his  money  was  closely  inspected  and  pronounced 
counterfeit,  and  he  was  arrested  under  a  criminal  process. 
Elliott  considering  himself  partly  to  blame,  voluntarily  made  a 
full  statement  of  the  matter,  but  instead  of  affecting  Burrett's 
release,  he  was  also  held  for  trial,  with  the  "  comforting  "  assur 
ance  that  if  found  guilty,  the  necks  of  both  should  " stretch." 


LIEUT.  ELLIOTT'S  NAKRATIVE.  793 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1863,  the  prisoners  were  notified 
that  they  would  be  taken  to  Richmond  for  exchange,  and  Lieuts. 
Elliott  and  Burrett  were  rejoiced  that  their  names  were  on  the  list. 
They  were  marched  to  the  depot,  and  while  waiting  for  the  train, 
the  two  officers  were  receiving  the  congratulations  of  their  friends 
at  their  escape,  when  two  Confederate  officers  came  in  great  haste 
from  the  prison  and  called  for  Burrett  and  Elliott.  Burrett 
responded,  and  was  taken  back  to  prison,  but  Elliott  not  answer 
ing,  they  concluded  he  had  made  his  escape,  which  opinion  was 
strengthened  by  remarks  from  the  rest,  to  the  effect,  "  He's 
gone" — "I  don't  blame  him" — "I  would  have  went,  too,  had  I 
been  in  his  place." 

Elliott  was  the  first  to  get  aboard,  but  he  knew  he  would  soon 
be  found  out,  and  determined  to  escape.  A  comrade,  who 
had  been  robbed  of  his  uniform  and  was  clad  in  "butternut," 
exchanged  with  him ;  Gen.  Willach  gave  him  a  map  of  the 
country ;  another  gave  him  a  pocket  compass,  and  Capt.  Camp 
bell,  of  the  36th,  contributed  nine  dollars  Confederate  money. 
These,  with  seven  small  biscuits,  comprised  his  outfit. 

At  Conyers,  the  third  station  east  of  Atlanta,  the  train 
halted,  and  bidding  his  friends  agood  bye,"  he  stepped  down, 
walked  boldly  to  the  platform  and  then  moved  leisurely  away, 
without  attracting  notice.  Pursuing  a  northerly  course,  he  soon 
entered  the  timber,  and  traveling  all  night,  reached  the  Chatta- 
hoochee.  Shortly  after  crossing  the  river,  he  came  to  a  cluster 
of  negro  huts,  and  though  nearly  daylight,  all  was  quiet,  until 
attacked  by  a  large  dog,  that  seemed  determined  to  dispute  his 
passage.  Keeping  him  at  bay  with  a  stick,  he  hurried  away, 
fearful  that  the  noise  would  arouse  the  natives. 

After  daylight,  he  sought  a  place  of  safety,  and  finding  a 
vacant  house,  he  ate  his  last  biscuit  and  laid  down  on  some  straw. 

51 


794  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

The  tramping  of  cattle  and  the  distant  voices  of  women,  con 
vincing  him  of  the  insecurity  of  the  situation,  he  started  on 
again,  and  after  going  about  a  mile,  left  the  road  and  plunged 
into  the  woods.  Collecting  some  bark  and  forming  a  shelter, 
then  gathering  a  quantity  of  leaves,  he  laid  down  and  slept  until 
near  sunset.  His  feet  were  swollen,  he  was  lame  and  hungry, 
but  he  dare  not  take  the  risk  of  inquiring  for  food.  He  traveled 
due  north  all  night,  more  slowly  than  on  the  previous  night,  and 
came  to  a  cabin,  the  occupants  of  which  were  not  up.  Conceal 
ing  himself  behind  a  rick  of  tan  bark,  he  soon  saw  smoke  curling 
from  a  chimney,  and  presently  a  woman  came  out.  Becoming 
satisfied  there  were  no  men  around,  and  goaded  on  by  hunger,  he 
approached  the  house  and  asked  for  breakfast.  The  woman  asked 
him  questions,  relative  to  where  he  was  from,  his  destination  and 
business.  His  answers,  framed  for  the  occasion,  enlisted  her 
sympathy,  and  she  readily  prepared  a  breakfast  of  corn  dodgers, 
crust  coffee  and  bacon,  which  in  his  nearly  famished  condition 
was  a  meal  fit  for  a  prince. 

He  then  began  seriously  to  reflect  upon  his  situation,  and  saw 
the  necessity  of  framing  a  story  that  would  last  him  in  his  trip 
through  the  Confederacy.  Though  not  approving  of  falsehood 
as  a  general  rule,  on  this  occasion  he  followed  the  old  maxim, 
"The  truth  should  not  be  spoken  at  all  times."  Thereupon,  to 
his  surprise,  he  found  his  name  to  be  J.  Clark,  of  Northern 
Georgia  ;  was  at  New  Orleans  when  the  war  broke  out :  enlisted 
in  the  1st  Louisiana  Regiment ;  had  been  absent  from  home  three 
years;  his  regiment  was  in  Tennessee.  With  the  knowledge  of 
his  Company  officers  he  ha.d  been  home,  and  was  now  returning 
to  his  regiment.  Did  not  claim  to  have  a  furlough,  as  these  were 
only  granted  when  men  were  sent  home  to  die.  In  short,  he  was 
away  on  "French  leave,"  but  was  getting  back  as  fast  as  he 
could. 


ELLIOTT'S  ADVENTURES  CONTINUED.     *  795 

Satisfied  with  the  plausibility  of  his  story,  and  of  his  immunity 
from  danger  while  adhering  to  it,  he  proceeded  boldly  by  day, 
and  towards  night  passed  a  wood  chopper,  who  asked  if  he  was 
going  to  the  village  (Jasper).  Without  answering  the  question, 
Elliott  asked  frhat  was  going  on  there.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  "  they 
are  having  a  great  time.  The  Conscripting  officer  is  there,  and 
there  is  much  excitement."  Having  learned  that  Jasper  was 
three  miles  distant,  he  passed  on,  but  did  not  go  through  the  vil 
lage.  At  ten  o'clock  he  left  the  road  and  lay  down  upon  the  wet 
ground  at  the  foot  of  a  large  tree.  In  about  two  hours  he  awak 
ened  cold  and  stiff,  and  then  moved  on.  The  country  was  moun 
tainous,  the  road  wound  over  hills,  through  valleys  and  across 
streams.  Coming  to  a  vacant  camp  where  fires  were  burning,  he 
lay  down  and  slept  until  daylight. 

The  country  was  covered  with  dense  forests.  Without  paying 
much  regard  to  roads  he  traveled  in  the  direction  of  Blairs ville. 
Coming  to  a  house  and  seeing  a  little  girl  in  the  yard,  he  asked 
for  food.  She  ran  into  the  house  and  the  mother  came  out  and 
invited  him  in.  Inside  was  an  old  man  and  a  sick  Confederate 
soldier.  His  prompt  answers  relative  to  army  life  were  evidently 
satisfactory,  and  the  people  became  quite  communicative.  From 
them  he  learned  of  the  Rebel  occupation  of  Knoxville,  the  point 
of  his  destination,  and  the  position  of  their  forces  stretching  from 
thence  westward  to  Fayetteville.  When  opportunity  offered,  he 
consulted  his  map,  and  decided  to  change  his  course  westward, 
taking  his  chances  of  breaking  through  the  enemy's  lines  a,t 
Dalton  and  reaching  Corinth.  At  night  he  found  himself  on  the 
summit  of  a  mountain.  Icicles  were  hanging  from  the  rocks, 
and  the  surroundings  were  cold  and  cheerless.  Sheltered  by  a 
shelving  rock,  and  with  a  bed  of  pine  boughs,  he  passed  a  not 
altogether  comfortable  night.  Towards  morning  it  commenced 


796  •    THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

to  rain,  and  though  dreading  to  face  the  storm,  he  finally  left  his 
shelter  and  was  soon  drenched  to  the  skin.  Almost  famished, 
shivering  with  cold,  and  alone  in  the  mountains,  his  thoughts 
turned  to  God,  and  he  prayed  long  and  fervently  for  His  pro 
tecting  care  and  guidance,  for  his  wife  and  child  in  Illinois  whom 
he  might  never  see  again. 

Refreshed  in  mind,  if  not  in  body,  he  followed  a  mountain 
stream,  and  came  to  a  small  clearing.  Advancing  towards  the 
house,  he  approached  a  woman  who  eyed  him  keenly,  and  asked 
her  for  dinner.  She  drew  a  long  sigh,  when  he  asked  her  what  was 
the  matter.  u  Why,"  said  she,  uwhen  I  saw  you  coming  I  took 
you  for  a  Yankee."  "A  Yankee!"  said  Elliott,  "What  put 
that  in  your  head  ?"  "I  don't  know,"  was  her  reply;  "I  never 
saw  one  in  my  life,  and  don't  know  how  one  could  get  in  here  ; 
yet  something  told  me  you  was  a  Yankee."  She  questioned  him 
closely,  and  notwithstanding  his  protestations  of  being  a  South 
ern  man  and  on  the  "right  side,"  it  was  with  considerable  hesi 
tation  she  finally  consented  to  give  him  something  to  eat.  Her 
heart  and  sympathies  were  all  with  the  South,  and  after  being 
persuaded  he  was  one  of  its  soldiers,  they  parted  the  best  of 
friends. 

While  fording  a  deep,  rapid  stream,  he  was  met  by  a  man, 
who,  as  usual,  asked  if  he  was  going  to  the  army.  "  Yes,  I  am 
trying  to  get  to  my  regiment,"  was  Elliott's  reply.  "  Well,  if 
you  hurry  up  you  can  get  a  ride  to  Chattanooga,  as  there  is  a 
company  of  cavalry  to  start  from  town  this  evening."  He 
thanked  the  man  for  the  information,  but  chose  to  let  the  cavalry 
go  on  without  him.  A  drizzling  rain  set  in,  and  night  coming 
on  he  entered  a  cornfield  and  crawled  into  a  shock  of  corn,  to 
give  time  for  the  cavalry  to  leave.  About  three  A.  M.  he  resumed 
his  walk,  and  soon  came  to  the  town,  and  found  some  of  the 


ELLIOTT'S  ADVENTURES  CONTINUED.  797 

cavalry  still  there,  detained,  perhaps,  by  the  rain.  Following  a 
back  street  he  passed  through  unmolested.  At  daylight  he  con 
cealed  himself  in  the  hollow  trunk  of  a  chestnut  tree,  from  which 
he  had  a  full  view  of  the  road.  Soon  a  squad  of  cavalry 
passed,  and  leaving  his  tree  he  followed  after,  but  was  discovered 
by  another  squad  coming  in  from  a  cross  road.  They  halted 
a  moment  for  him  to  come  up.  Thinking  him  a  poor  infantry 
soldier,  they  had  some  fun  at  his  expense,  then  galloped  away. 
Thus  he  pressed  forward,  sleeping  in  the  woods  at  night  and 
keeping  himself  informed  of  movements  arbund  him.  At  Spring 
Place  he  unexpectedly  ran  upon  a  crowd  of  men  at  a  store,  talk 
ing  treason  and  in  many  ways  evincing  their  hostility  to  the 
"Yankees."  There  being  no  way  to  avoid  them,  he  marched 
up  boldly,  and  thus  disarmed  suspicion.  During  a  heavy  rain 
storm  he  entered  a  negro  cabin  for  shelter.  In  the  evening  the 
subject  of  the  war  was  talked  about.  Having  always  had  a  kind 
master,  the  negro's  sympathies  were  all  with  the  South.  He 
had  lived  in  Tennessee,  but  during  Mitchell's  raid  his  master 
went  South,  and  his  fellow  slaves  north — he  and  two  geese  being 
the  sole  tenants  of  the  plantation.  "  Wai,"  said  he,  "  dem  Yanks 
am  awful  smart.  One  day  a  little  Yank  comd  along  wid  a  goose 
under  his  arm,  and  said,  '  Uncle,  want  ter  buy  dis  goose  ?  sell 
uin  cheep.'  I  axed  him  how  much  for  he  want.  l  Half  dollar.' 
Wai,  I  hab  a  silver  half  dollar,  and  two  geese  out  in  de  pen.  I 
buys  de  goose,  an  took  he  to  de  pen,  an  what  do  you  tink  ?  why 
dat  cussid  Yank  had  done  gone  and  stole  one  ob  my  geese  and 
den  sel  urn  to  me  !  Golly,  you  can't  hide  nothing  from  dem 
Yankees,"  and  thus  the  evening  was  whiled  away  until  bedtime. 
A  breakfast  of  musty  bacon,  and  bread  from  unbolted  corn  meal, 
for  which  his  negro  host  thought  six  bits  would  do,  and  which 
Elliott  thought  certainly  ought  to. 


798  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

He  approached  Dalton  slowly  and  with  great  trepidation,  but 
finally  determined  to  push  boldly  through.  The  sun  had  set, 
and  twilight  rendered  objects  a  little  indistinct,  as  he  sauntered 
listlessly  through  town.  Crowds  of  officers  and  men  were  met, 
the  former  respectfully  saluted,  and  he  passed  on  unrecognized 
and  unmolested,  thus  taking  a  great  weight  off  his  mind. 

Thus  for  days  he  made  his  way  gradually  westward,  avoiding 
the  camps  of  soldiers  and  large  towns,  fording  streams  the  water 
of  which  was  icy  cold,  sleeping  in  the  woods  and  only  approach 
ing  houses  when  hunger  drove  him -to  them.  Reaching  the  north 
end  of  Pigeon  Mountain,  it  was  with  great  difficulty  he  could 
proceed,  owing  to  sore  feet  and  general  exhaustion.  He  deter 
mined  to  depart  from  his  usual  course  and  seek  a  night's  lodging 
in  a  farm  house.  One  was  found,  and  a  middle-aged  lady  met 
him  at  the  door.  A  cheerful  fire  blazed  in  the  chimney,  and 
everything  was  neat  and  tidy.  His  feet  paining  him  much, 
warm  water  was  brought,  which  gave  relief  after  bathing  awhile. 
The  good  woman  was  quite  alarmed  at  seeing  his  feet  swollen 
nearly  to  bursting.  Her  husband  proved  to  be  an  intelligent 
man,  kindly  disposed  to  the  soldiers  and  an  ardent  Rebel.  An 
excellent  ;mpper  was  prepared,  and  when  ready  to  retire,  Elliott 
was  shown  into  a  clean  room  and  to  a  feather  bed — a  luxury  he 
had  riot  indulged  in  since  leaving  home  two  years  before. 

While  traversing  the  mountains  near  McLemore's  Cove,  he 
Approached  a  house  arid  asked  for  permission  to  stay  over  night. 
u  No  sir,"  was  the  prompt  reply,  and  the  man  explained  that 
straggling  soldiers  had  nearly  eaten  him  out  of  house  and  home. 
But  on  Elliott's  reasoning  with  him  arid  offering  to  pay  for  bene 
fits  received,  he  concluded  he  might  remain.  In  the  course  of  the 
evening,  the  old  man's  Union  sentiments  would  occasionally  crop 
out.  He  stated  that  he  was  born  under  the  folds  of  the  stars 


ELLIOTT'S  ADVENTURES  CONTINUED.  799 

and  stripes  and  he  hoped  to  die  under  them,  adding,  "  you  sold 
iers  are  fighting  to  destroy  the  best  government  the  world  ever 
saw."  Elliott  wanted  to  reveal  his  true  character,  but  concluded 
it  was  not  prudent  to  do  so. 

Lieut.  Elliott  continued  his  course  west,  by  way  of  Lebanon, 
Big  Spring,  etc.  He  subsequently  fell  in  with  a  Union  man, 
named  Winchester,  who  was  returning  to  his  farm  near  Corinth 
from  whence  he  had  been  driven  the  year  before.  On  the  22nd, 
they  passed  through  Moulton,  beyond  which  their  wagon  was 
disabled  by  the  breaking  of  an  axle.  Nearing  Russellville,  he 
approached  a  fine  mansion  and  asked  for  dinner.  A  young 
woman  met  him  at  the  door  with  an  emphatic  "  No,  sir !"  to  his 
request,  and  slammed  the  door  in  his  face.  Choking  down  his 
feelings,  he  called  at  another  and  was  politely  invited  in.  Every 
thing  looked  so  aristocratic  that  Elliott  had  some  scruples  about 
accepting  the  invitation,  but  hunger  overcame  his  doubts,  and  he 
sat  down  to  as  splendid  a  dinner  as  he  ever  ate  in  the  South.. 

Winchester,  his  traveling  companion,  reached  his  farm  and 
halted,  but  Elliott  hastened  on.  His  nearness  to  the  Union  lines 
heightened  his  anxiety  and  nerved  him  for  a  final  effort  to  escape. 
His  adventures  were  numerous.  He  wandered  into  swamps; 
was  set  upon  by  blood-hounds ;  was  nearly  drowned  in  crossing 
Bear  Creek.  Finally,  after  varying  fortunes,  he  reached  the 
railroad,  three  miles  south  of  Rienzi.  The  country  looked 
familiar,  and  he  was  congratulating  himself  that  his  hardships 
were  nearly  over,  when  he  attracted  the  attention  of  two  mounted 
men,  who  chased  him  into  the  woods  and  swamps.  Again  strik 
ing  for  the  road,  he  unexpectedly  found  himself  within  thirty 
rods  of  the  old  regimental  drill  grounds  of  ten  months  before. 
Making  a  wide  circuit,  he  came  upon  the  Corinth  road,  north  of 
Rienzi,  arid  peering  through  the  bushes,  saw  the  two  horsemen, 


800  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS   VOLUNTEERS. 

apparently  looking  for  him.  After  a  very  narrow  escape  through 
a  swamp,  he  again  came  upon  the  guerilla  horsemen,  who  were 
determined  to  take  him,  but  a  swift  run  enabled  him  to  reach 
the  picket  post  of  the  66th  Illinois. 

Gen.  Dodge,  who  was  in  command  at  Corinth,  after  hearing 
his  story  and  studying  the  rout  over  which  he  had  passed, 
expressed  his  surprise,  as  well  as  admiration,  of  the  indomitable 
pluck  that  had  carried  him  safely  through.  The  General  could 
refuse  nothing  to  a  36th  boy,  and  furnished  him  with  clothing,  a 
pass  and  a  furlough  home,  after  which  he  joined  the  86th  at 
Murfreesboro,  April  20th,  1863  and  took  command  of  Company 
K.  A  written  sketch  of  Lieut.  Elliott's  adventures  reads  like  a 
romance.  We  have  been  obliged  to  leave  out  most  of  the  details 
and  present  only  a  slight  sketch  of  his  wanderings  through  pov 
erty-stricken  and  war-blighted  "Dixie." 

FOURTEEN    MONTHS    IN    REBEL    PRISONS. 

Elisha  E.  Lloyd,  of  Company  E,  36th  Illinois  Volunteers, 
soon  after  getting  into  line  at  the  Battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  in 
the  midst  of  the  Rebel  charge  which  swept  our  ranks  with  dis 
aster,  was  stunned  by  a  musket  ball  striking  his  belt-plate, 
felling  him  to  the  ground.  When  he  awoke  it  was  to  the  unpleas 
ant  consciousness  of  being  a  prisoner  of  war.  He  was  taken  to 
the  rear  and  confined  with  others  in  a  pen  until  the  following 
day,  when  he  was  marched  to  Tunnel  Hill,  and  from  thence  by 
rail  to  Atlanta.  A  ration  and  a  half  of  bean  meal  bread,  and  a 
pint  of  cornmeal  obtained  at  Petersburg,  Va.,  was  the  sum  total 
of  food  furnished  him  by  the  great  and  magnanimous  Confed 
eracy  until  his  incarceration  in  Libby  prison. 

In  October  following  he  was  removed  from  Libby  to  Castle 
Thunder.  On  being  searched,  an  old  pass  that  came  into  his 


STORY   OP   ELISHA   E.    LLOYD.  801 

possession  at  Murfreesboro,  was  found  in  his  boots.  For  so 
grave  an  offense  he  was  immured  three  days  in  a  dungeon,  with 
out  food  or  water.  From  thence  he  was  taken  to  the  Royster 
House,  which  for  once  did  not  want  for  guests.  Here  the  pris 
oners  were  subjected  to  insults  and  barbarities  absolutely  fiend 
ish,  but  the  prolific  source  of  suffering,  overshadowing  all  others, 
was  want  of  food. 

The  following  incident  illustrates  the  nearly  starved-to-death 
condition  of  the  "guests"  at  this  famine-haunted  hotel.  The 
person  whose  duty  it  was  to  call  the  roll,  one  morning  was 
accompanied  by  a  dog.  A  little  familiarity  and  patting  of 
Towser  kept  him  quiet  until  his  master  had  left,  when  he  was 
killed,  cooked  and  eaten  inside  of  thirty  minutes.  Lloyd  asserts 
that  it  was  the  most  toothsome  meal  he  ate  within  the  Confederacy. 

By  some  strange  intuition — a  certain  indefinable  something 
which  draws  people  of  like  sentiments  towards  each  other- 
Lloyd  became  satisfied  that  one  of  the  guards  was  a  Union  man. 
Hunger  made  him  desperate,  and  as  opportunity  offered,  he 
broached  the  subject  of  escape.  By  solemnly  promising  not  to 
expose  his  confederate  in  case  of  recapture,  he  was  allowed  to 
pass  out  unchallenged  and  unnoticed.  In  a  short  time  he  was 
recaptured  and  returned  to  his  former  quarters.  For  refusing  to 
divulge  the  name  of  his  accomplice,  he  was  not  allowed  food  for 
four  days. 

On  the  23rd  of  November,  many  of  the  prisoners  were  removed 
to  Danville,  Va.,  and  placed  in  No.  5  Prison.  From  all  accounts 
given  of  Major  Muffett,  the  officer  in  charge,  he  must  have  been 
liberally  endowed  writh  many  of  the  fiendish  attributes  of  the 
Devil  himself.  To  inflict  and  witness  human  suffering,  was  to 
him  the  height  of  enjoyment. 


802  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

At  length  four  of  the  prisoners  endeavored  to  effect  an  escape. 
At  ten  o'clock  at  night,  while  Lloyd  was  knocking  down  the 
guard,  his  three  comrades  rushed  through  the  gate  and  got  away. 
The  brief  struggle  and  outcry  in  disarming  the  guard  was  fatal 
to  Lloyd's  hopes  of  escape,  and  the  gleam  of  muskets  athwart 
his  path  was  a  sufficient  inducement  for  him  to  change  his  mind, 
and  running  back  and  mingling  with  the  crowd  he  was  not  rec 
ognized.  For  a  while  the  excitement  was  great.  The  Major 
was  furious,  and  endeavored  in  vain  to  discover  the  instigators 
of  the  escapade.  In  the  tumult  he  lost  his  revolver,  and  Lloyd 
picking  it  up,  secreted  it  about  his  person.  The  prisoners  were 
threatened  with  starvation  unless  the  revolver  was  given  up. 
Knowing  the  Major's  ability  and  perfect  willingness  to  execute 
his  threat,  the  revolver  was  surrendered,  and  for  his  part  in  the 
matter  Lloyd  was  bucked  and  gagged  and  deprived  of  food  for 
two  days. 

In  addition  to  brutal  treatment  and  the  gnawings  of  hunger, 
the  small  pox  broke  out  among  the  prisoners,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men  were  down  with  the  loathsome  disease  at  one  time. 
To  fill  the  cup  of  human  misery,  a  general  vaccination  was 
ordered,  resulting  in  the  death  of  all  who  were  thus  treated. 
The  arms  of  many  rotted  off,  and  one  in  particular  whose  arm 
and  back  rotted  away  before  death  came  to  his  relief.  Thus  the 
long  winter  passed,  and  April's  sun  appeared,  when  the  few  that 
remained  alive  were  loaded  into  cattle  cars  and  taken  to  Ander- 
sonville. 

The  story  of  Anderson ville,  with  all  its  sickening  horrors,  can 
never  be  told.  With  here  and  there  an  exception,  its  victims  lie 
mouldering  in  the  silent  villages  of  the  dead  !  Language  is 
feeble  to  express  the  sad,  sad  story.  We  will  let  Lloyd  tell  his 
bitter  experience  in  his  own  words — only  regretting  that  the  pre- 


LLOYD'S  STORY  CONTINUED.  803 

scribed  limits   of  our  work  will  not  permit  us   to  produce  the 
whole. 

Andersonville  prison  comprised  eighteen  acres  of  land,  inclosed 
with  a  stockade  of  pine  logs,  thirty  feet  in  length,  fifteen  feet 
of  which  were  in  the  ground.  Fifteen  feet  within,  posts  were 
set,  to  which  boards  were  nailed,  to  indicate  the  "dead  line.'1 
The  penalty  of  getting  beyond  this  line,  was  to  be  shot  down 
like  dogs.  We  were  told  to  divide  into  messes  and  then  we  could 
draw  our  rations.  This  was  quickly  done,  and  we  told  them  to 
"bring  on  their  grub."  It  came  at  last — a  quantity  of  black 
u  Nigger  beans,"  a  half  pint  to  each,  and  this  was  to  last  twen 
ty-four  hours.  April  passed  and  May  came,  but  with  it  no  change 
for  the  better.  To  such  desperate  straights  were  we  reduced, 
that  stealing  food  and  clothing  from  each  other  was  a  common 
occurrence.  Men  were  even  murdered  for  a  meal  of  victuals. 

In  May,  a  company  of  about  one  hundred  men  was  formed,  for 
mutual  benefit  and  support.  It  was  called  Company  E,  of  the 
f36th  111.  Vol.,  and  I  was  placed  in  command.  All  were  sol 
emnly  pledged  to  obey  me,  or  any  other  officer  in  command,  in 
all  things  consistent  with  each  others  welfare.  A  project  for 
excavating  under  and  beyond  the  stockade  was  entered  into  with 
the  greatest  enthusiasm.  Permission  was  obtained  to  dig  a  well, 
and  a  shaft  was  sunk  one  hundred  and  ten  feet,  but  failed,  as  was 
expected,  to  reach  water.  A  tunnel  was  then  commenced  in  the 
side  of  the  well,  thirty-five  feet  below  the  surface.  The  dirt  was 
hauled  up  at  night  and  carried  to  the  stream,  whence  large  quan 
tities  were  washed  to  the  outside  of  the  stockade.  This  excited 
the  suspicion  of  the  Confederate  guards,  and  yet  the  tunnel  would 
not  have  been  discovered  but  for  the  treachery  of  one  of  our 
own  number,  who  revealed  the  whole  project  for  a  loaf  of  bread. 


804  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

Company  E  was  then  formed  in  line  and  informed  that  not  one 
should  have  a  morsel  of  food  until  the  ringleader  was  pointed 
out.  Not  one  faltered  or  betrayed  an  intention  of  being  false  to 
his  promise.  At  last,  I  thought  it  better  for  one  to  suffer,  than 
so  many  noble  fellows  should  starve,  so  calling  the  officer,  I  told 
him  I  was  the  leader  and  had  instigated  the  plot.  The  remainder 
of  the  company  were  dismissed,  while  I  was  held  in  custody 
and  sentenced  to  be  shot.  Being  informed  that  the  sentence 
would  be  executed  that  night,  I  obtained  permission  to  write  to 
friends,  but  changed  my  mind,  and  told  the  guard  it  would  make 
no  difference  with  them,  as  they  already  thought  me  dead,  and  I 
would  not  now  add  a  fresh  pang  to  their  sorrow.  They  said  I 
should  not  be  let  off  so  easily,  and  instead  of  mercifully  putting 
an  end  to  my  suffering,  they  fastened  a  fifty  pound  ball  to  my 
leg.  I  was  not  relieved  of  this  until  June  26th,  when,  it  is 
needless  to  say,  my  ankle  was  cut  to  the  bone. 

At  that  time  there  were  thirty-two  thousand  prisoners  of  war 
confined  within  the  prison  pen,  and  deaths  from  starvation  and 
scurvy  averaged  one  hundred  and  twenty  per  day.  The  brook  run 
ning  through  the  enclosure  was  fed  by  a  spring  on  the  west  side 
between  the  dead  line  and  stockade.  All  the  filth  within  the 
prison  pen  accumulated  along  this  stream,  and  we  had  to  strain 
the  water  through  our  teeth  to  keep  the  maggots  out.  The  spring 
was  pure  and  wholesome,  but  whenever  a  person  presumed  to 
reach  after  a  drink,  his  hands  and  arms  were  shot,  and  many 
killed. 

I  have  seen  fifty  men  at  a  time  lying  in  the  filth  bordering 
the  stream,  with  their  feet  in  the  water  to  cool  them,  their  limbs 
swollen  and  bursting  open  to  their  knees  with  dropsy  and  scurvy, 
and  at  the  same  time  filled  with  maggots.  I  have  seen  men's 
eyes,  ears  and  mouths  filled  with  maggots,  and  still  possessed  of 


LLOYD'S  STORY  CONTINUED.  805 

life.  I  have  seen  men  sitting  in  filth,  picking  from  thence  undi 
gested  beans,  and  eating  them  the  second  time,  all  caused  by 
sheer  starvation.  These  things  seem  hardly  possible,  arid  I  should 
scarcely  venture  to  make  the  statements  were  I  alone  and  not 
supported  by  witnesses  who  saw  and  shared  these  sufferings 
with  me. 

On  the  llth  of  July  six  of  our  own  men  were  hung  by  their 
comrades  for  murdering  fellow  prisoners.  Oh !  how  hunger 
inflames  and  intensifies  the  brutal  passions  of  men,  and  wliile 
enduring  its  excruciating  pangs  they  look  and  act  more  like 
fiends  than  human  beings. 

I  was  taken  sick  with  scurvy  and  dropsy,  and  was  unable  to 
take  a  part  in  plans  for  an  escape.  I  could  not  walk ;  my  teeth 
became  loose,  my  gums  decayed,  and  I  began  to  think  my  days 
were  numbered.  My  messmates,  ten  in  number,  one  after 
another  died,  until  only  John  Cotton,  of  Plainfield,  Illinois, 
remained.  One  afternoon  he  said,  "  Well,  Lloyd,  which  of  us 
goes  next?"  I  told  him  I  thought  the  Rebs  could  not  kill  me. 
He  replied,  that  he  wished  he  could  think  so ;  "  And  do  you 
really  think  you  will  get  out  of  this  alive  ?"  On  my  answering 
in  the  affirmative,  he  said,  "  When  you  get  home,  please  send 
these  things  to  my  wife  and  children,"  and  while  saying  this  he 
handed  me  a  small  box  containing  a  heart  and  three  crosses. 
"  These  are  the  last  and  only  gifts  I  can  send  to  my  dear  ones  at 
home.  Take  them,  Elisha,  and  tell  them  the  fate  of  their  father, 
and  that  his  last  moments  of  prayer  were  for  them."  The  reader 
can  imagine  what  were  rny  feelings  at  separating  with  the  last 
of  my  messmates.  The  next  day  the  poor  fellow  faintly  called 
me,  saying,  "  Well,  I  am  now  going  !  May  God  bless  my  wife, 
my  little  ones  at  home  !  Good  bye!"  and  then  he  breathed 
his  last,  and  I  was  alone. 


THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

While  in  this  condition  a  member  of  my  own  regiment,  also  a 
prisoner,  found  me,  stating  that  he  had  been  trading  with  the 
Johnnies,  and  was  in  possession  of  a  stock  of  onions,  potatoes, 
&c.,  that  if  I  would  give  him  my  note  of  hand  for  five  dollars  he 
would  give  me  value  received  in  vegetables.  The  note  was 
accordingly  drawn  and  signed,  and  I  came  into  possession  of 
two  onions  and  two  potatoes.  However  meagre  the  supply,  the 
investment  was  a  good  one,  for  from  that  time  I  began  to  improve. 

A  sick  companion  near  me  grew  worse,  and  it  was  evident  he 
must  soon  die.  He  was  in  possession  of  a  good  pair  of  boots, 
which  he  told  me  I  might  have  after  he  was  dead.  He  grew 
gradually  worse,  and  when  he  had  ceased  to  breathe,  1  went  for 
the  boots,  but  got  only  one,  another  fellow  getting  the  other. 
1  told  him  he  must  give  me  that  boot.  He  replied  that  if  1  was 
able  to  whip  him,  1  could  have  it,  but  not  without.  Well,  at  it 
we  went,  and  I  beat  him  out  of  the  boot.  It  was  not  much  of  a 
fight,  as  neither  of  us  could  stand  at  the  time.  Subsequently, 
I  sold  the  boots  for  $250  Confederate  money,  a  part  of  which  I 
gave  to  the  party  with  whom  I  had  contended.  With  the  money 
arising  from  the  sale  of  the  boots,  1  purchased  potatoes  and 
onions,  and  was  thereby  kept  from  starvation.  We  were  fre 
quently  deluded  into  the  belief  that  an  exchange  of  prison 
ers  would  soon  be  effected,  and  no  one  can  imagine  the  happi 
ness  derived  from  such  a  hope.  Then  would  come  news  of  fail 
ure  of  efforts  for  our  release,  and  sorrow  and  depression  would 
take  the  place  of  former  joy.  Many  were  the  prayers  that  went 
up  from  that  prison  pen,  that  the  gates  of  hell  would  open  and 
swallow  up  Old  WTurtz,  Jeff.  Davis  and  the  Southern  Confeder 
acy.  I  believe  there  was  one  time  I  prayed  myself. 

About  the  1st  of  October,  exchanges  were  made,  the  well  and 
healthy  being  taken  and  the  sick  ones  left.  I  was  removed  to 


LLOYD'S  STORY  CONTINUED.  807 

what  was   called  the  hospital — a  rudely  constructed  shed,  that 
served  as  a  shelter  from  the  fiery  rays  of  the  sun. 

About  the  middle  of  November,  a  comrade  who  could  walk 
informed  me  that  a  list  was  being  taken  of  all  who  could  walk  a 
mile  and  a-half,  for  the  purpose  of  exchange.  Being  forewarned 
was  to  be  forearmed,  and  when  they  came  to  me  and  said,  "  Well, 
Yank,  how  far  can  you  walk  ?"  I  replied  about  two  miles.  My 
name  was  taken,  and  the  next  morning,  when  called  upon  to  go 
outside,  I  could  not  walk  and  did  not  know  what  to  do.  Kind 
comrades  helped  me,  and  I  succeeded  in  reaching  the  gate.  The 
prison  officer  spoke  harshly  to  me  for  deceiving  him,  but  finally 
I  was  put  into  a  wagon,  taken  to  the  railroad  and  loaded  into  a 
cattle  car.  After  many  vicissitudes  by  rail,  we  arrived  at  Savan 
nah.  While  passing  the  gas-house,  men  and  women  crowded  its 
roof  and  showered  bread  and  cake  upon  us,  and  were  arrested 
by  the  Rebel  authorities  for  so  doing.  One  man,  in  the  act  of 
giving  me  bread,  was  knocked  down  with  the  butt  of  a  gun. 
May  Heaven  bless  the  noble  men  and  women  of  Savannah. 
Their  kindness  will  never  be  forgotten.  It  was  the  only  ray  of 
sunshine  that  broke  through  the  sombre  clouds  and  cast  a  benig 
nant  gleam  during  all  the  dark  months  of  my  captivity. 

We  reached  the  exchange  boats,  Nov.  20th,  1864,  and  were 
once  more  under  the  protecting  folds  of  the  stars  and  stripes. 
To  us,  the  transformation  was  as  from  hell  to  Heaven.  No  words 
can  express  our  joy  at  the  change.  Once  in  the  hands  of  friends, 
our  clothing  was  renewed,  coffee  and  nourishing  food  (at  first  in 
small  quantities)  were  given  us,  and  then  we  steamed  out  upon 
the  ocean  to  Annapolis,  but  many  a  poor  fellow  died  before 
reaching  the  friendly  shore. 

We  were  carried  out,  and  to  the  hospital  on  stretchers.  Great 
crowds  of  anxious  men,  women  and  children  were  at  the  landing, 


808  THIRTY-SIXTH    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS. 

looking  for  fathers,  brothers,  husbands  and  friends,  and  many 
were  the  heartbroken  cries  of  sorrow  on  failing  to  recognize  the 
ones  for  whom  they  sought.  At  the  hospital  we  were  the  recip 
ients  of  every  care  and  attention  that  loving  hearts  and  willing 
hands  could  bestow.  The  women  nurses  connected  with  the 
sanitary  commission  fulfilled  all  my  pre-conceived  ideas  of  angels 
from  Heaven. 

There  was  nothing  to  cloud  our  happiness  now  except  the 
thought  of  the  suffering  ones  left  behind,  and  of  those  who  died 
of  starvation  and  inhuman  treatment.  More  than  sixteen  thou 
sand  were  thus  inhumanly  murdered  by  old  Capt.  Wurtz  and 
Jeff  Davis.  The  former  has  met  with  his  deserts,  while  the 
latter  finds  plenty  of  toadies  that  would  go  many  miles  to  hear 
him  speak.  I  would  not  go  an  inch  except  to  see  him  hanged. 
While  patriotism  remains,  I  implore  the  American  people  not  to 
forget  the  nameless  graves  of  their  sainted  dead  at  Andersonville. 


THE    END. 


263658 


.  C.  BEBKELEY  LIBRARIES 


